§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the basis for each of his estimates of population in paragraph 4 of his population report laid under paragraph 2 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
§ Mr. ChopeThe estimates of population referred to in paragraph 4 of the draft population report would be used only in the calculation of the relevant population of a charging authority in certain limited circumstances.
The estimates in paragraph 4 are based on the best information available to the registrar general, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security as appropriate.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment why he decided to use population figures at 30 June 1988 in respect of setting revenue support grant for April 1990 to March 1991; and what factors prevent a date nearer to the introduction of poll tax being used.
§ Mr. ChopeThese figures are the latest annual estimates of the resident population compiled on a consistent basis for all local authorities by the registrar general. They are available for the age groups used to define the client groups for particular local authority services in the calculation of standard spending assessments.