§ 22. Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the standard spending assessment and revenue grant provision as proposed for the city of Liverpool in 1994–95; and if he will undertake a complete review of the city's financial situation in consultation with Liverpool city council.
§ Mr. CurryStandard spending assessments are calculated on principles applicable to all authorities, taking674W account of each authority's social, demographic and physical characteristics. Liverpool's SSA of £419 million for 1994–95 is equivalent to £875 per head, the third highest of any metropolitan district. The total external support for Liverpool that year, which includes revenue support grant, SSA reduction grant and redistributed non-domestic rates, will be £363 million, equivalent to £758 per head, again the third highest.
We look each year at the calculation of standard spending assessments. In the forthcoming round we will certainly bear in mind the points made by the city of Liverpool and by the hon. Member. It is for the city council to manage within the resources available to it: it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in the way implied in the question.