§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to review the method of calculating the spending needs of local authorities. [107339]
§ Ms ArmstrongAssessment of the relative spending pressures faced by local authorities is an important step in the distribution of revenue grants from central to local government. The method of distributing grants is being reviewed, and discussions are well underway between central and local government officials on a range of options for improving the system. Decisions about the merits of the various options for reform will not be taken until we have consulted widely this summer.