§ 21. Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he proposes to adjust the revenue support grant in 1998–99 to take account of the relative costs of providing services between local authorities.[14862]
§ Ms ArmstrongOur proposals for the distribution of revenue support grant for 1998–99 will be announced in due course.
As my hon. Friend the Minister for London and Construction said on 30 October 1997, Official Report, column 1082, we have recently announced that we intend to commission further research to examine the specific cost approach to calculating the area cost adjustment element of standard spending assessments.
As a consequence of commissioning this research we have decided not to implement for 1998–99 standard spending assessments any options for change proposed by the 1996 Review of the Area Cost Adjustment or the additional research on the area cost adjustment done this year. These options remain available for consideration alongside the findings of the specific cost research.