HC Deb 19 February 1991 vol 186 cc111-2W
Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the amounts in cash terms for the York city council area(a) received from non-domestic rates in 1989–90, (b) due to be paid in uniform business rate in 1990–91 and in 1991–92 and (c) due from the non-domestic rate pool to York as a receiving authority in 1990–91 and in 1991–92.

Mr. Key

The information for York city council is as follows:

Year £ million
(a) Receipts from non-domestic rates 1989–90 18.3
(b) Estimated receipts from non-domestic rates in 1990–91 16.6
1991–92 21.7
(c) Receipts from non-domestic rate pool in 1990–91 23.1
1991–92 27.7

Figures for receipts of non-domestic rates in 1989–90 and the following years are not on a comparable basis because of extensive changes to the system of local government finance.

Mrs. Peacock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the standard spending assessment for highways for Kirklees metropolitan council for 1991–92: and what it was for 1990–91.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 15 February 1991]: The standard spending assessment for highway maintenance for Kirklees metropolitan council is £14.767 million for 1991–92. In 1990–91 it was £13.583 million.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 1 February,Official Report, column 662, if he will outline why the proposed capital financing element of the standard spending assessment for Stoke-on-Trent was reduced by £407,000.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: The final capital financing SSA was £406,568 lower than the provisional figure issued at the time of consultation as a result of using later estimates of credit approvals for Stoke-on-Trent and all other authorities.

Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement showing how the central Government increase of 23 per cent. in the standard spending assessment for personal social services is affected by the national inflation factor of 9 per cent. in the poll tax capping rules.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: The increase in the standard spending assessments for personal social services reflects the Government's view of the amount of spending which is appropriate taking account of the pressures facing local authorities from service developments, demographic pressures and inflation and of what the country can afford. Under the intended criteria for charge capping, no authority would be capped if it spends at or below its SSA. The intended criteria do not depend on any "national inflation factor".

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the effects of the community charge on private tenants' housing costs.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 18 February 1991]: No such information is available.