§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the area cost adjustment. [9325]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 18 July 1997]: The work of the review of the area cost adjustment during 1996 provided an examination of the issues, although not one the local authority associations wanted implementation for 1997–98 standard spending assessments. The Department has commissioned research to examine some of the concerns of local government about the review's proposals. It is due to report this week. We shall discuss with local government both the research findings and the way forward on the area cost adjustment.