§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the former metropolitan railway grant, now to form part of standard spending assessments, will be transparent. [29484]
§ Mr. WattsMy right hon. Friend proposes to replace the current temporary arrangements with an enhancement of the standard spending assessment "bolt on" grant, with effect from 1996–97. That proposal has been set out in a consultation paper, which was circulated to the passenger transport executives in March.
The final formula for the distribution of the "bolt on" between individual PTEs will be made available to the passenger transport authorities and the constituent metropolitan district councils. The "bolt on" allocated for each PTE will be published in the local government finance report. The allocation of the "bolt on" for each PTE to constituent metropolitan district councils will continue to be on the basis of total resident population. The Department will also be prepared to write to any individual constituent metropolitan district council to confirm its allocation of the "bolt on', and to state that it has resulted in a corresponding increase in its SSA, and therefore a corresponding increase in revenue support grant for that authority.