§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the social services standard spending assessment for North Yorkshire has increased by 0.5 per cent. in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement. [64584]
§ Ms ArmstrongCalculations underlying the 1999–2000 social services standard spending assessment (SSA) for North Yorkshire are set out in the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) for 1999–2000. The 0.5 per cent. increase in the social services SSA reflects a 5.8 per cent. increase due to control totals, a 5.2 per cent. decrease due to changes in the method of calculation and a 0.1 per cent. decrease due to incorporating the latest data in the indicators used to calculate the SSA.
Changes to the method of calculation for 1999–2000 have been made, following research and discussion with local government, where we are satisfied that they are justified and lead to a fairer system overall. The main changes affecting North Yorkshire are the new method of calculating the SSA for children's social services and the exclusion of residents of institutions from the elderly residential formula. I will shortly be meeting a delegation from North Yorkshire County Council to discuss the proposed settlement.
36W
Highways Maintenance schemes carried out on the Al between Eighton Banks and the Scottish Border (over £50k) November 1995—November 1998 Scheme Length in miles Duration A1 Hitchcroft to Cawledge 1.4 1 month A1 West Moor Felton 0.4 2 weeks A1 Scremeston Roundabout South 0.8 2 weeks A1 Warneford South 0.5 2 weeks A1 North of River Coquet 0.4 2 weeks A1 Detchart Junction 0.3 2 weeks A1 Fenwick North 0.65 2 weeks A1 Ancroft to Cat Inn 0.65 3 weeks A1 Lobley Hill to River Derwent 1.83 3 months A1 Warneford North 0.6 2 weeks A1 Buckton 0.7 2 weeks A1- A6105 Highfields Roundabout 0.57 3 weeks A1 Berwick Bypass 1.5 1 week