HC Deb 30 March 1993 vol 222 cc132-3W
Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what effect the census validation survey has on the distribution of the standard spending assessments of population estimates for local authorities; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of grant through the standard spending assessment formula population estimates to metropolitan district authorities of the under-enumeration formulas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Squire

The effect of the census validation survey has been to ensure that the mid-1991 population figures produced by the registrar general for use in the calculation of standard spending assessments are as accurate as possible.

We have looked most carefully at the mid-1991 population figures based on the 1991 census results, given their implications for standard spending assessments and revenue support grant entitlements. We are satisfied that the methods the registrar general has employed to produce these estimates, particularly in relation to the allocation of census under-enumeration, are the most appropriate in the circumstances and do not disadvantage metropolitan or any other class of authorities.

Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to adjust the standard spending assessments population estimates for Leeds and Wakefield because of the under-enumeration following the OPCS survey; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Squire

The provisional mid-1991 population figures used in the calculation of the 1993–94 standard spending assessments already include allowances for the under-enumeration identified from the OPCS census validation survey.

Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses to allocate under-enumerations of population to local authorities for standard spending assessment purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Squire

It is the registrar general who is responsible for preparing the population figures used in the calculation of standard spending assessments, including the formulation of criteria for allocating estimates of under-enumeration to local authority areas. He has set out the methods used to compile his figures in the OPCS monitor PP1 92/1, a copy of which is in the Library.

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