§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken on the recommendation of the second report of the Health Committee of Session 1990–91 on child protection services that her Department and local authorities should conduct an urgent review of the relationship between changing levels of need and of resources in London with a view to establishing the 747W validity of the standard spending assessment formula in relation to the capacity of London authorities to meet their responsibilities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoThe standard spending assessment formulae are being reviewed with the help of the local authority associations to take into account new information derived from the 1991 census and data from other sources. The review will be completed by autumn 1993 and is likely to affect standard spending assessment formulae for the financial year 1994–95. The review will take into account the outcome of research sponsored by the Department into avoidable and unavoidable factors affecting unit costs in London.