HC Deb 01 February 1991 vol 184 cc658-9W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the standard spending assessment for Stoke-on-Trent and the 10 district authorities closest to it in size, giving figures for five larger ones and five smaller ones, together with the estimated assessment for each, and the percentage increase or decrease in the final figure compared with the estimate for each; and if he will list the criteria which led to changes in the original estimates.

Mr. Portillo

The table lists the standard spending assessment (SSA) for Stoke-on-Trent and the 10 districts closest in size in terms of 1991–92 SSA in £m. The main reasons for change between the provisional figures for 1991–92 SSAs announced on 31 October and the final settlement figures are: that later estimates of credit approvals have been used; that later data on flood defence expenditure have been incorporated; and there have been a number of other small changes to data and service control totals. These effects are shown in columns 5, 6 a:nd 7 respectively of the table.

31 October figure for total SSA Final figure for total SSA Percentage change in total SSA Change in total SSA Change in capital financing SSA element Change in flood defence SSA element Change in all other SSA elements
£ million £ million per cent. £ million £ million £ million £ million
Blackburn 19.100 19.183 0.4 0.083 0.080 0.000 0.003
Brighton 18.215 18.329 0.6 0.114 0.113 — 0.001

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much it would cost to exempt all those people on income support from paying 20 per cent. of the poll tax.

Miss Widdecombe

I have been asked to reply.

Income-related benefit levels were adjusted in April 1989 to include help towards the 20 per cent. contribution to the community charge at an estimated cost of £500 million.

Assuming that these benefit levels are not reduced, exempting all those on income support from paying the 20 per cent. contribution would cost an estimated £300 million in community charge benefit, at current benefit levels.

Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985–86–87 Family Expenditure Surveys.