HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 cc574-5W
Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial effect the inclusion of homelessness as an indicator has had on the grant settlement this year for(a) Coventry, (b) Wandsworth and (c) Westminster councils.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

There is no specific amount for homelessness within standard spending assessments. However, homelessness is one of a large number of general indicators that are included within composite indices in the personal social services and all other services service blocks. They serve as an adjustment to increase or reduce the SSA, depending on the position of the authority relative to the average for all authorities. For the specified authorities, these homelessness indicators contribute the following adjustment:

£ million
Coventry City Council -1,790
London Borough of Wandsworth +1,684
Westminster City Council +3,519

It is the overall value of an index which is important in determining an authority's SSA and not the value of an individual indicator within an index.

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which 10 councils gained most in this year's grant distribution as a result of homelessness being a factor in the standard spending assessment system.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

There is no specific amount for homelessness within standard spending assessments. However, homelessness is one of a large number of general indicators that are included within composite indices in the personal social services and all other services service blocks. The 10 authorities which have the highest contribution from homelessness indicators are:

  • Birmingham City Council
  • Manchester City Council
  • London Borough of Lambeth
  • London Borough of Hackney
  • London Borough of Southwark
  • London Borough of Islington
  • London Borough of Walsall
  • Bradford City Council
  • London Borough of Haringey
  • London Borough of Westminster

It is the overall value of an index which is important in determining an authority's SSA and not the value of an individual indicator within an index.