§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the community charge paying population of Oxfordshire has been calculated.
§ Mr. ChopeDetails of the proposed method of calculation were set out in the consultation paper issued by my right hon. Friend on 6 November.
In general, the relevant population of a charging authority for 1990–91 will be based on the numbers of people shown on the community charges register on I December 1989, as subject to a personal community charge or a collective community charge of that authority.
§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out for each of the last five years that sum which his Department judged appropriate for Oxfordshire county council to spend to provide a reasonable level of service and the amount actually spent by Oxfordshire county council.
§ Mr. ChopeThe amount my Department considered appropriate for Oxfordshire to spend and the actual total expenditure for Oxfordshire in the past five years are as follows.
Grant related expenditure Latest reported total expenditure £ million £ million 1985–86 180.220 175.373 1986–87 189.659 192.623 1987–88 200.008 203.556 1988–89 216.081 227.906 1989–90 226.794 242.075 The total expenditure figures shown are outturn figures, with the exception of 1 98 9–90 which is based on Oxfordshire's budget returns.
§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department gave to Oxfordshire county council last year concerning the use of its reserves.