HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 cc365-6W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will revise the formula for the allocation of Welsh revenue support grant so that local authority areas with high unemployment, housing needs and deprivation, receive an increase which is at least equal to the rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The formulae for distributing revenue support grant in 1994–95 are set out in the Local Government Finance Report—Wales—1994–95 which received the approval of Parliament on 15 February. The formulae are agreed with the local authority associations and represent a fair and objective way of distributing revenue support grant to all local authorities in Wales.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the cash allocations of Dwyfor, Cynon Valley, Ogwr and Port Talbot in the Welsh revenue support grant and their relation to the Welsh average; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Redwood

For 1994–95 the standard spending assessments per head of population for Dwyfor, Cynon Valley, Ogwr and Port Talbot are £220, £204, £153 and £174 respectively. These compare with a district average of £159. SSAs are calculated with reference to a wide range of factors which reflect the relative need of Welsh local authorities to spend on services.