HC Deb 24 January 1994 vol 236 cc31-2W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the area cost adjustment factor as a percentage of the standard spending assessment for each year from 1990–91.

Mr. Baldry

The total amounts allocated on the basis of the area cost adjustment factors as a percentage of standard spending assessments for each year since 1990–91 are as follows:

Total SSA £ million Total allocated on area cost factors £ million Percentage allocated on area cost factors Per cent.
1990–91 29,805.3 836.8 2.8
1991–92 35,586.7 1,152.1 3.2
1992–93 37,992.7 1,314.5 3.5
1993–94 36,622.2 1,332.4 3.6
11994–95 37,847.7 1,536.4 4.1
1 Provisional.

The 1994–95 figures are based on the Secretary of State's proposals announced on 2 December 1993. Final SSAs for 1994–95 will be announced shortly.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have benefited from the area cost adjustment factor, and by how much as(a) a total, (b) a percentage of the overall standard spending assessment and (c) an amount per resident in each year since 1990–91.

Mr. Baldry

I have placed tables in the Library showing the requested information. The 1994–95 figures have been calculated on the basis of the provisional SSAs announced by the Secretary of State on 2 December 1993. Final SSAs for 1994–95 will be announced shortly.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the change in the area cost adjustment factor compared to the overall change in standard spending assessment for each year since 1990–91.

Mr. Baldry

The annual percentage changes since 1990–91 in the total of SSAs and in the amounts allocated on the area cost adjustment have been as follows:

Year Increase in SSAs Increase in amount allocated on area cost adjustment
Per cent. Per cent.
1990–91 to 1991–92 19.4 37.7
1991–92 to 1992–93 6.8 14.1
1992–93 (adj) to 1993–94 2.9 8.9
1993–94 to 1994–95 (prov) 3.3 15.3

Notes:

1. For the purposes of comparison with 1993–94, the 1992–93 figures have been adjusted to allow for the transfer of certain local authority responsibilities, most notably for further education. These calculations have been revised and now show an increase in the area cost factor contribution of 8.9 per cent. between 1992–93 and 1993–94.

2. The 1994–95 increases have been calculated on the basis of the provisional SSAs announced by the Secretary of State on 2 December 1993. After adjustment to allow for the impact of extra money for community care and other changes of function, the overall increase in SSA between 1993–94 and 1994–95 would be 2.2 per cent. Final SSAs for 1994–95 will be announced shortly.