HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 cc101-2W
Mr. William O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that local authorities receiving funds under the current standard spending assessment system will not be disadvantaged by phasing in any subsequent changes resulting from the review of standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to phasing in changes to the SSA system; and what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Mr. Baldry

We will consider carefully the effect of any changes in the system of standard spending assessments resulting from the review of SSAs before deciding whether it will be necessary to mitigate these effects, and if so what means and to what extent.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to establish an ongoing review of the standard spending assessment system with particular reference to the monitoring of the relationship between grant levels and needs of individual authorities.

Mr. Baldry

We have just completed a review of standard spending assessments for 1994–95. Standard spending assessments are the Government's assessment of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure by each local authority taking account of its physical, demographic and social characteristics, consistent with the provision of a common level of service and the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure for all local authorities. We are always prepared to look at new evidence for changes in standard spending assessments.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the future relationship between capping levels and standard spending assessments.

Mr. Baldry

My right hon. Friend intends to announce provisional capping criteria for 1994–95 at the same time as his proposals for the 1994–95 local government finance settlement.