§ Mr. Charles ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the costs of providing domiciliary social services in sparse rural areas in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [52353]
§ Ms Armstrong[holding answer 27 July 1998]: Norfolk County Council, on behalf of the County Councils' Network, have put forward for discussion information on the costs of providing domiciliary social services in rural areas. In the light of this, they have proposed that the current measure of sparsity of population should be introduced under this part of the SSA formulae. This proposal has been discussed with representatives of local government. We will consider the arguments for and against this change, and expect to announce our conclusions early in December.