HC Deb 17 February 1992 vol 204 cc60-1W
Sir David Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (I) what is the 1992–93 precept per community charge payer proposed by Tadley town council in the borough of Basingstoke;

(2) how many parish or town councils have proposed a precept of £29–88 or more per community charge payer for 1992–93.

Mr. Portillo

This information is not available to me.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the basis of the sum of £2,469,200,000 ascribed to debt charges in annex B of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) (No. 2) Report (England) H.C. 190.91/92 and the estimated total of all relevant local authorities receiving grant consequent to the report;

(2) if he will state the basis on which he determined the formulae concerning the global sum and distribution of standard spending assessments, respectively for repayment of and interest on approved capital expenditure by local authorities, together with references to documents where such statements and formulae were publicly available.

Mr. Key

Total standard spending for 1992–93 represents the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue spending by local authorities to provide all services. Within that, the total amount allowed for the revenue consequences of capital spending represents the relative priority to be afforded to this type of expenditure, bearing in mind relevant factors such as likely movements in interest rates.

The method of distribution of the SSA element for debt charges is set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (No. 2) (England). The basis of this approach is described in the publication by the Department of the Environment "SSAs Background and Underlying Methodology"; copies of both documents are in the Library.

All 366 charging authorities receive revenue support grant.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from representative local authority organisations concerning the difference between the total of the standard spending assessments concerning capital charges and the amount they have, or are liable, to disperse in respect of their authorised borrowing requirements.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced his proposals for the 1992–93 revenue support grant settlement to the House on 26 November 1991. During the consultation period following that announcement representations on the capital financing element of standard spending assessments—SSAs—were received from the Association of Metropolitan Authorities—AMA—and the Association of County Councils. Both associations commented on the proposed total within SSAs for capital expenditure financed from the revenue account. The AMA also questioned the total available for debt charges and the link with falling interest rates.

Mr. Wells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he expects to announce the outcome of the consultation on the local government finance settlement for 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

[pursuant to his answer, 23 January 1992, c. 277]: Since the approval of the revenue support grant report, I have formed the view that fresh circumstances affecting the finances of local authorities have arisen. I have today laid before the House the "Additional Grant Report (England) 1992–93", which contains my determination of the total amount of grant to be paid to local authorities in England, and the basis on which it is to be distributed; and I have placed in the vote office copies of a letter and table, showing individual grant entitlements, that is being sent to all local authorities today.