§ Mr. Michael SpicerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many district authorities have been granted provisional increases in their standard spending assessments of more than 10 per cent. in 1994–95; and how that was provided for in his Budget statement that the growth in total standard spending in England for local authorities will be limited to 2.3 per cent. next year.
§ Mr. BaldryThere were 99 district authorities with provisional increases of more than 10 per cent. in their standard spending assessments for 1994–95. After excluding the additional resources provided for community care and making adjustments for changes in function the overall increase in total standard spending between 1993–94 and 1994–95 will be 2.3 per cent. and the equivalent increase in the total of SSAs will be 2.2 per cent. The review of SSAs and the introduction of information from the 1991 census has led to a number of authorities having large increases between 1993–94 and 1994–95, while other authorities have had decreases.