§ 15. Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to meet the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government finance. [15799]
§ 25. Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss local government funding. [15809]
§ Mr. KynochI will be meeting COSLA on 28 June.
§ 29. Dr. ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss Scottish local government; and if he will make a statement. [15814]
§ Mr. KynochOn 26 January. At the meeting, the convention representatives argued that the 1996–97 local government finance settlement was inadequate and have since put a figure of £395 million on the alleged shortfall in funding. The settlement already provides for an increase of £148 million or 2.9 per cent. in the level of aggregate external finance which is £26.5 million more than the formula consequences of the English settlement and the convention were asked to say which other Scottish expenditure programmes should be further reduced in order to increase the level of the local government settlement, but declined to express any view on this.