HC Deb 17 May 1995 vol 260 c258W
Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has consulted the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the administrative costs of his proposals for local government reorganisation in Berkshire. [24529]

Mr. Curry

Government decisions are collective.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the additional administrative staff required by the six proposed unitary authorities in Berkshire. [24530]

Mr. Curry

Staffing structures will be a matter for the newly elected councils.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the allocation of standard spending assessments to the proposed new unitary authorities in Berkshire. [24531]

Mr. Curry

The standard spending assessments for the new unitary authorities in Berkshire will be calculated on the basis of the services which these authorities provide, using the formulae which are applied to all relevant authorities.

Details of the formulae for 1995–96 are set out in the publication "Standard Spending Assessment handbook, 1995–96" which is available from the Library. Following the review work which we undertake each year with the local authority associations, we will publish our proposals for 1996–97 in the usual way in December.