§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in his review of the Bellwin scheme, he will consider giving direct funding from central Government in the form of severe weather payments to local authorities.
§ Mr. ChopeThe purpose of the review will be to consider how to adapt the Bellwin scheme given the new local government finance system.
The principles underlying the scheme have been that the primary responsibility for dealing with emergencies lies with local authorities, but central Government assistance may be given exceptionally where otherwise an excessive burden would fall on ratepayers or chargepayers. These principles will remain.
Council GRE Reported total expenditure Percent difference (column 1–2 Reported total expenditure per head £ million 1 £ million 2 percentage 3 £ 4 Shepway 6.029 8.119 34.7 93 Dartford 4.935 6.218 26.0 79 Tunbridge Wells 5.548 6.954 25.3 70 Tonbridge and Mailing 5.059 6.295 24.4 62 Ashford 5.266 6.270 19.1 66 Gravesham 5.701 6.640 16.5 74 Canterbury 8.219 9.284 13.0 70 Swale 6.394 7.114 11.3 62 Thanet 9.862 10.878 10.3 84 Sevenoaks 5.400 5.719 5.9 53 Dover 6.387 6.743 5.6 63 Maidstone 7.382 7.654 3.7 56 Gillingham 6.311 5.914 -6.3 62 Rochester upon Medway 10.021 7.769 -22.5 53
§ Sir John StanleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 1990–91 revenue support grant entitlement per head of population, before safety net adjustments and after reduction of the amount of revenue support grant, attributable to Kent county council for each borough and district council in Kent in descending order of magnitude.
§ Mr. David HuntIt is not possible to calculate the figures requested. Although revenue support grant is paid to district councils in support of services provided by both the district and county councils, there is no amount separately identified as being attributable to the county council.