§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to invite contributions from local authorities and other interested parties to his review of standard spending assessments.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 14 April 1993]: Officials in my Department have written to all local authorities in England inviting them to make representations on the review of standard spending assessments and to provide evidence to support any proposed changes.
There will also be regular meetings between my officials and representatives of the local authority associations until September to discuss the technical aspects of the review.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the staffing resources and the financial provision for external research that he proposes to devote to his review of standard spending assessments.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 14 April 1993]: The review of standard spending assessments will involve work by my own Department in consultation with other Government Departments and the local authority associations. Work is already in progress using existing resources. Some external research is under way and more will he carried out where this is felt necessary.