§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the criteria by which the indicators forming the grant-related expenditure assessment for local authorities are weighted.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe rate support grant report contains each year the formula used in calculating authorities' grant-related expenditures — GREs. The formula for 1984–85 is contained in annex K to the 1984–85 report. My Department also publishes each year, and sends to each local authority, an explanation of the principles on which the GREs for each service are calculated. A copy of "Grant related Expenditure 1983–84" is in the Library.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the weighting of each indicator forming the grant-related expenditure assessment for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe grants working group studies refinements and improvements to grant-related expenditure each year as part of its annual programme of work.548W Our proposals for the abolition of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils will require some changes to take account of the transfer of functions. We will be considering the changes in consultation with the local authority associations.