§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on the impact of the changes in the distribution formula for the Welsh Office's funding of local government in Wales from the poorest unitary authorities, with particular reference to social deprivation and council tax income; and what further consideration he is giving to this matter. [27997]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsMy hon. Friend has received 27 representations. He and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) accepted the recommendations of the joint review group instigated at the request of the WLGA, following an eighteen month examination of the issues that drive the need for local authority expenditure on services. Acceptance was conditional upon the commissioning of a joint independent review of the concept of local authority spending need in readiness for the National Assembly for Wales. The review will be commissioned shortly.