§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money is being earmarked for local authorities to pay for the increased work load resulting from enforcement of the Food Safety Act; how and when this will be paid to local authorities; what formula is being employed to determine the allocation between local authorities; and how the resources will be divided between county and district councils.
§ Mr. KeyThe Government have estimated that local authorities in England will need to spend £24.7 million, in 1991–92, to carry out the additional duties resulting from the Food Safety Act. This additional cost has been taken into account in the total of aggregate external finance, proposed to be £26.05 billion, which will be distributed to local authorities on the basis of standard spending