Local Government Finance (Hansard, 6 November 1995)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate the Association of Metropolitan Authorities has sent to provide him about the increase in local authority spending needed to provide the same level of public services for the year 1995–96 as in 1994–95 in(a) England and (b) the west midlands. [41011]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
The local authority associations submitted a joint report in October 1994 which indicated that local authorities in England would need to increase aggregate expenditure in 1995–96 by approximately £3 billion at 1994–95 prices over 1994–95. There were no separate figures for the west midlands.

§ Mr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the increase in local authority spending needed to provide the same level of public services as in 1994–905 for the year 1995–96 in(a) England and (b) the west midlands. [41010]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
Each year, the Government estimate the total revenue spending which authorities in England should incur. This is known as total standard spending and mounted to £43.507 billion in 1995–96 including provision of £50 million for the transitional costs of local government reorganisation. In 1994–95, TSS amounted to £42.664 billion including provision of £10 million for local government reorganisation. Authorities have discretion within their capping limits to spend more than this on services.
In arriving at a figure for 1995–96, the Government took account not only of demographic pressures and inflation but of the scope for efficiency gains and re-prioritising. TSS was distributed to local authorities through standard spending assessment which reflect local circumstances.

§ Mr. Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times a month he has met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss exclusively the spending requirements of local authorities. [41012]

§ Sir Paul Beresford
My right hon. Friend has met his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on numerous occasions in recent months. The spending requirements of local authorities have been among the many subjects they have discussed.