HC Deb 04 March 1992 vol 205 cc159-60W
Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the revenue support grant and standard spending assessment for Dorset for 1992–93 as compared with 1991–92.

Mr. Key

The standard spending assessment for Dorset county council at £369.8 million for 1992–93 is 8.2 per cent. above that for 1991–92 at £341.8 million. Revenue support grant at £125.1 million is 23.7 per cent. higher than the sum of RSG and community charge grant for 1991–92 of £ 101.2 million.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the impact of outstanding rating appeals both domestic and non-domestic on local authority finances in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 2 March 1992]: Rating appeals under the new non-domestic rating system have no impact on local authority finances. Within any given level of aggregate external finance, any variation in rates yield due to such appeals would be matched by a corresponding variation in the level of revenue support grant. Figures are not available nationally on the effects for those years of appeals in respect of the 1973 valuation lists. The effect of these appeals on local authorities' budgets and charges will depend on their own past budgeting decisions. As I announced on 27 February, we have decided to issue supplementary credit approvals totalling some £9.5 million to assist those authorities most affected in 1991–2 by the results of rating appeals notified to them after 1991–92 budgets had been set.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet a delegation of residents from Coventry to discuss the effect of the standard spending assessment for 1992–93 on the level of education provision and social services in the city.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 2 March 1992]: No. Within Coventry's budget, the spending priorities given to education and social services are a matter for the city council.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings or other discussions his officials have had with local government officers or councillors from Coventry about the city's standard spending assessment in 1991 and 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 4 March 1992]: Coventry City Council made representations on standard spending assessments for 1991–92 and I met a delegation from the West Midlands joint committee, including Coventry, to hear representations on the SSA for 1992–93. For 1992–93 Coventry's SSA increases by 5.8 per cent. and is, at £1,080 per adult, one of the highest of any metropolitan district.