HC Deb 09 June 1992 vol 209 cc156-8W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the branches of the local government finance policy division of his Department(a) the total number of staff, analysed by grade, (b) the total salary costs, (c) the policy responsibilities and (d) the measurements of policy outcomes used to appraise the branch for the purposes of MINIS and the branch's achievements in the most recent MINIS report.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 8 June 1992]: The information is as follows:

POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance Local Taxation Division (FLT) Monitoring and operation of the Community Charge; monitoring and operation of non-domestic rates, including payments for Valuation Office Agency services and planning for the 1995 non-domestic revaluation; oversight of Valuation Tribunals; preparation for Council Tax.

Finance Local Authority Grants Division (FLG) Annual local government finance settlement; collection and payment of non-domestic rates and grant; PES and Vote management; sponsorship of the Audit Commission; commutation.

Finance Local Authority Grants and Revenue Division (FLGR) Standard Spending Assessments and Revenue Support Grant.

Finance Local Authority Expenditure and Revenues Division (FLER) Local Authority accounting advice; council tax and community charge setting, precepting, levying, capping and funds.

Finance Local Capital Division (FLC) Capital allocations to authorities; monitoring operation of capital finance system; local authority financial prudence.

Finance Local Authority Statistics Division (FLAS) Collection and analysis of data; forecasting and briefing.

STAFF AND SALARY COSTS

  • Staff numbers at 31 March 1992.
  • Salary costs for year ending 31 March 1992.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the regulations still to be made under the Local Government Finance Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 8 June 1992]: The following regulations arising from the Local Government Finance Act 1992 have still to be made for England:

Appeals

  • The Council Tax (Alteration of List) Regulations
  • Valuation Tribunals Regulations

Valuation

  • The Domestic Property (Definition) Regulations

Tax Setting, Precepting, Levying and Funds

  • Collection Fund Regulations
  • Levying Body Regulations
  • Anticipation of Precepts Regulations
  • Information for Tax Setting Purposes Regulations

Council Tax Benefit and Transitional Arrangements

  • Council Tax Benefit Regulations [to he made by the Department of Social Security]
  • The Council Tax (Reduction Scheme) (England) Regulations

Administration and Enforcement

  • The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) Regulations

Miscellaneous

  • Commencement Orders (Consequential Amendments and Repeals)
  • Consequential Amendments. Repeals etc Order
  • Netting Off Regulations

National Non-Domestic Rate

  • Duty to consult Ratepayers Regulations
  • Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (Final Adjustments) Regulations
  • Non-Domestic Rating Contributions (England) (Amendment) Regulations
  • Non-Domestic Rating Interest (Amendment) Regulations

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the capping criteria for Cheltenham borough council and Gloucester city council for 1992–93 were adjusted to take into account the misallocation of grant to these councils in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what account was taken of boundary changes in fixing grant allocations to local authorities in Gloucestershire for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will visit Cheltenham to discuss his 1992–93 grant allocation with councillors and other residents' representatives.

Mr. Squire

[holding answer 8 June 1992]: The boundary changes affecting Gloucestershire districts occurred too late to be taken into account in 1991–92 standard spending assessments and hence in revenue support grant distribution. Instead, compensating payments were made between the authorities concerned.

Allowance is made for these boundary changes in the 1992–93 SSAs in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 12 of the Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) (No. 2) Report (England), which was approved by the House of Commons on 4 February 1992. In the circumstances, I believe that it would not be appropriate to visit Cheltenham to discuss the 1992–93 RSG distribution.

SSAs are central to the capping criteria for 1992–93; hence we consider the criteria we have adopted make appropriate allowance for the effect of the boundary changes.

Gloucester's total SSA for 1992–93 is 13.1 per cent. higher than for 1991–92. That of Cheltenham is 16.7 per cent. higher. These increases in large part reflect the boundary changes.

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