HC Deb 10 May 1976 vol 911 cc42-4W
Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the level of loan debt taken over by the Cleveland County from Teesside County Borough Council in 1974; and how it compares with the national average in the English shire counties.

Mr. John Silkin

Details about the loan debts of individual authorities are best obtained from the authority concerned. Comparisons of such debts with the national average can then be made by reference to the "Return of Outstanding Debt" published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and available in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take into account the special needs and problems of Cleveland County outlined in the recent district auditor's report when he fixes the level of grant for the county in future years.

Mr. John Silkin

As far as is possible the special needs and problems of all authorities are taken into account in the formula for the distribution of rate support grant.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now compensate Cleveland County for the low Government grant in 1974–75 which has now been confirmed by the district auditor to be inadequate when measured against the extra needs and problems of the area.

Mr. John Silkin

No. There have been significant improvements in the basis of the RSG distribution over the past two years.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the exceptional provisions outlined in the recent district auditor's report which led to Cleveland County Council having the highest rate precept of all the English counties in 1974–75.

Mr. John Silkin

The report refers to the special needs of the county in the circumstances of 1974–75. Whilst I do not necessarily agree with all the auditor's views, it should be remembered that the RSG distribution formula has been improved significantly over the past two years.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion of schoolchildren per 1,000 population in the Cleveland County area indicating how this compares with other counties in the country; and what implications this has for the Cleveland County budget when compared with other counties.

Miss Margaret Jackson

I have been asked to reply.

1975–76 estimates, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, indicate a proportion of 220 school pupils per 1,000 population for the county of Cleveland. The corresponding figure for all English counties is 183. It is for the local education authority to consider the financial implications "Education units", calculated on the basis of weighted pupil and student numbers, are incorporated in the formula used for distributing rate support grant (need element).