§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the answer of 21 February given by the Secretary of State for Education,Official Report, columns 183–84, in relation to his statement in the debate on council budget capping on 15 June about comparative figures for Devon and Somerset local education authorities' central administrative costs; and if he will make a statement on whether the figures are correct. [29926]
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesOur decisions on capping were based on the figures put to us by the authorities themselves as a part of their representations, rather than the 1992–93 figures listed in the answer of 21 February. In the view of Somerset county council the difference between the Somerset and the Devon figures in the answer may reflect differences in definitions or accounting practices between the authorities.