§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department will issue the new Scottish unitary authorities with their indicative budgets for 1995–96. [25332]
§ Mr. Kynoch[holding answer 23 May J995]: My right hon. Friend intends to lay a report before the House, in accordance with section 24 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, in the autumn specifying the amounts which he will use as the baseline for considering capping action in 1996–97. However, in recognition of the shadow councils' need to have early knowledge of the amounts for the purpose of beginning to prepare budgets for 1996–97, my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to issue his proposed figures by about the end of June.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is being fully consulted about the preparation of the figures and those existing local authorities which are being disaggregated have agreed to have discussions with 737W relevant shadow councils about the appointment of their 1995–96 budgets to the new council areas.