§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the changes in standard spending assessment methodology introduced for 1999–2000, showing the effect of each change on(a) standard spending assessments for each class of authority and (b) standard spending assessments for each local authority in England in (i) percentage and (ii) cash terms. [62855]
§ Ms ArmstrongThe changes in the method of calculating standard spending assessments (SSAs) for 1999–2000 are summarised in paragraph 12 of the consultation paper, "Revenue support grant for 1999–2000 and related matters" issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 2 December 1998. A copy was placed in the Library.
For nearly all of these changes, the report of the SSA Sub-group for 1999–2000 exemplified the effect each of these changes would have had on SSAs for 1998–99, had it been introduced in that year. For the new cases in which the Report does not provide the relevant information, it is set out in a paper of the SSA Sub-group (paper SWG:SSASG(98)145). Copies of the Report and the paper have been placed in the Library. The consultation paper gives cross-references to the Report.
Figures are not available to show the equivalent figures in relation to the 1999–2000 SSAs.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out for each notifiable authority the change between revenue support grant in 1998–99 and the provisional rate support grant in 1999–2000 in(a) percentage and (b) cash terms. [62856]
§ Ms ArmstrongA table showing the information requested has been placed in the Library. The table also shows the percentage change, and the change in cash terms, between the total of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) 39W for 1998–99 and the provisional total of Revenue Support Grant and redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates for 1999–2000.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out for each authority with social services responsibilities the change between the 1998–99 standard spending assessment and their provisional standard spending assessment for 1999–2000 in(a) percentage and (b) cash terms, excluding from the provisional standard spending assessment the amount provided to cover the 1998–99 STG. [62857]
§ Ms ArmstrongTo adjust in this way does not make sense in the light of the Comprehensive Spending Review which started from a zero base, looking at expenditure needs afresh. The only fair comparison is to look at total resources provided for social services which, in aggregate, show a 6.1 per cent. cash increase or a 3.5 per cent. real terms increase between 1998–99 and 1999–2000. The increased resources we are making available will meet the costs of looking after existing and new community care clients, and enable local authorities to deliver real improvements in services. The figures requested would therefore provide a misleading comparison.