§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of specific needs which have to be met on a regional rather than local level in the calculation of standard spending assessments for personal social services.
§ Mr. PortilloA personal social services standard spending assessment is allocated to each social services authority in England based on its social and demographic characteristics. The standard spending assessment covers the full range of social services not supported by specific grant.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he takes of existing levels of service in the calculation of standard spending assessments for the personal social services.
§ Mr. PortilloThe standard spending assessment for personal social services is based on demographic and social indicators which best reflect the cost of providing a standard level of service. It takes no direct account of existing levels of service provision.