§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the changes proposed in the Elliott report on local authority financial support; what further studies he has initiated; and if he will make a statement. [1570]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe work of Professor Elliott and the Review of the Area Cost Adjustment provided a useful examination of the issues, though not one which the Local Authority Associations wanted implemented for 1997–98 SSAs. The Department has recently commissioned research to examine some of the concerns of local government about the Review's proposals. It will report in early July and we shall discuss with local government both the findings and the way forward on the Area Cost Adjustment.