HC Deb 27 January 1997 vol 289 c11W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution he estimates the private finance initiative will make to the capital programme of local authorities in the next financial year. [12592]

Sir Paul Beresford

We have announced support for up to £50 million of PFI investment in 1996–97, and £200 million in 1997–98. The public private partnerships programme has recently announced a series of PFI pathfinder projects which are expected to be signed in forthcoming months.

Mr. Congdon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to announce the outcome of consultation on the local government finance settlement; and if he will make a statement. [13213]

Mr. Gummer

I am today laying before the House the "Local Government Finance Report (England) 1997–98", the "Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts (Relevant Notional Amounts) Report (England 1997–98", and the "Special Grant Report (No. 23)". These reports establish the amounts of revenue support grant and non-domestic rates to be paid to local authorities in 1997–98, and the basis of their distribution, specify the amounts which are to be used as the basis of comparison for measuring increases in certain local authorities' budgets in 1997–98 for the purposes of capping, and provide for a special standard spending assessment reduction grant to be paid to certain authorities for 1997–98. Drafts of these reports were issued for consultation on 27 November 1996. The Department received written representations from 210 authorities and my Ministers met 79 delegations from local councils.

I have considered the views of local authorities and others who have commented on my initial proposals. The local government finance settlement represents a reasonable and balanced distribution of resources in the context of what the country can afford as a whole.

Within the total resources, priority has been given to education, police and the fire service. It is now up to local authorities to prove they can maintain and improve their delivery of key services, and use the flexibility we have given them through capping to adapt to local circumstances.

I shall be sending copies of these report to all authorities, together with tables showing each authority's standard spending assessment and its entitlement to RSG, NDR and special grant. I have placed copies of the reports and the tables in the Library and the Vote Office.