§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional criteria for standard spending assessments are being considered; and what consultation he will introduce to improve the standard spending assessment system.
§ Mr. Robin SquireStandard spending assessments (SSAs) already include a wide range of indicators which are updated and refined every year in the light of new data and evidence. In preparation for the 1994–95 settlement, a number of indicators and formulae will be looked at again in the light of the full results from the 1991 census. These include the indicator for additional educational needs and the all ages social index. We will also be considering the possibility of introducing measures of sparsity and density based on census enumeration districts, and of including a factor to represent day visitors. All of this analysis will be fully discussed with local authority representatives. We consider that the present arrangements provide the opportunity for full and widespread consultation and there are no plans for change.