HC Deb 01 December 1997 vol 302 cc33-5W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what would have been the effect in 1997–98 on(a) the standard spending assessment and (b) the revenue support grant for (i) each class of authority and (ii) each local authority in England, had the indicator for shared and non-permanent accommodation been removed from the social index used in the calculation of SSAs, assuming that the national aggregate finance had remained at the current level. [17963]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: Figures showing the effect in 1997–98 on standard spending assessments (SSAs) of removing the shared and non-permanent accommodation indicator from the Social Index are not readily available. Figures showing the effect of the same change in 1996–97 are given for each class of authority and each local authority in England in the "Standard Spending Assessments Sub-Group Report for 1997–98", published by the Department of the Environment in 1996, a copy of which is in the Library.

It is not possible to quantify the effect of the change on revenue support grant (RSG), because the total amount of RSG available depends upon, among other things, the amount of the SSA Reduction Grant payable for the relevant year. This, in turn, depends upon the decisions made on the arrangements for the payment of SSA Reduction Grant and the pattern of SSA changes in the relevant year.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what would have been the change in(a) standard spending assessment and (b) revenue support grant in 1997–98 for (i) each local authority in London and (ii) London as a whole, had the resident population been used as the client group in the `All Other Services' SSA, assuming that the national aggregate external finance had remained at the current level. [17962]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: Figures showing the effect in 1997–98 on standard spending assessments (SSAs) of using the resident population as the client group for the purpose of adjusting for extra costs due to population density, population sparsity and varying socio-economic characteristics in the `All Other Services' SSA are given for each local authority in London, and for London as a whole, in the "Standard Spending Assessments Sub-Group Report for 1998–99". A copy of this document is in the Library.

It is not possible to quantify the effect of the change on Revenue Support Grant (RSG), because the total amount of RSG available depends upon, among other things, the amount of the SSA Reduction Grant payment for the relevant year. This, in turn, depends upon the decisions made on the arrangements for the payment of SSA Reduction Grant and the pattern of SSA changes in the relevant year.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the standard spending assessment in 1997–98, for (a) the City of Westminster, (b) the London Borough of Islington and (c) the London Borough of Southwark, indicating for each the (i) density of population, (ii) proportion of people from ethnic minorities, (iii) proportion of people living in over-crowded accommodation, (iv) proportion of people aged over 85 years and (v) proportion of elderly people living alone. [17971]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: Information for the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Islington and the London Borough of Southwark on the Standard Spending Assessments for 1997–98, the proportion of people likely to be from ethnic minorities and the proportion of people living in overcrowded accommodation is available in the "Standard Spelling Assessment Handbook 1997–98", published by the Department of the Environment. A copy of this document is in the Library.

Information for the same three authorities on the density of population, the proportion of people aged over 85 years and the proportion of elderly people living along is also available in the Library.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes to the standard spending assessment formula methodology he is assessing for implementation in 1998–99; and if he will indicate for each option its potential financial impact on each class of local authority in England expressed(a) as the net change in its standard spending assessment and (b) as the net change in its standing spending assessment divided by (i) the aggregate number of Band D equivalent dwellings and (ii) chargeable dwellings, as used for council tax setting in 1997–98, for that class of authority. [17972]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: We shall announce shortly our proposals for changes to the Standard Spending Assessments (SSA) formula methodology for implementation in 1998–99. In reaching our decisions, we have had regard particularly to the possible changes discussed this year with the Local Government Association. A report on these discussions, including illustrations of the effect of possible changes on SSAs, is given in the "Standard Spending Assessments Sub-Group Report for 1998–99", a copy of which is in the Library.

Figures for each class of authority in England of the aggregate number of Band D dwellings and the number of chargeable dwellings, as used for council tax-setting in 1997–98, are also available in the Library.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the submissions his Department has received on the 1998–99 local authority settlements; and if he will summarise their main recommendations and indicate the date on which they were received. [17969]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: My right hon. Friend has received a large number of submissions from the local authority associations, local authorities and others, including, for example, considerable correspondence during the SSA sub-group's consideration of SSAs for 1998–99. It would be disproportionately expensive to cover all submissions received on this issue. We have been carefully considering all submissions as we take decisions on our proposals for local government revenue expenditure in the coming financial year. We will be announcing the provisional settlement next week and local authorities and others will have the opportunity to comment on our proposals in the consultation process that will follow.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what would have been the effect in 1997–98 on the(a) standard spending assessment and (b) revenue support grant for each (i) class of authority and (ii) local authority in England had the share of SSA for additional educational needs changed in line with changes in numbers of income support claimants, assuming the national aggregate external finance had remained at the current level. [17967]

Mr. Raynsford

[holding answer 28 November 1997]: Figures showing the effect in 1997–98 on Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) of changing the share of SSA for additional educational needs in line with changes in numbers of income support claimants are not readily available. Figures showing the effect of the same change in 1996–97 are given for each class of authority and each local authority in England in the "Standard Spending Assessments Sub-Group Report for 1997–98", published by the Department of the Environment in 1996. A copy of this document is in the Library.

It is not possible to quantify the effect of the change on Revenue Support Grant (RSG), because the total amount of RSG available depends upon, among other things, the amount of the SSA Reduction Grant payable for the relevant year. This, in turn, depends upon the decisions made on the arrangements for the payment of SSA Reduction Grant and the pattern of SSA changes in the relevant year.