§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in determining the grant to be 149W given to the Southend unitary authority for the year 1998–99; and what factors he is entitled to take into account in making such a determination. [976]
§ Ms ArmstrongI expect to announce the Revenue Support Grant for Southend for 1998/99 at the same time as I announce my proposals for other authorities. Such announcements have customarily been made about the end of November. I expect to apply the same grant formula to Southend as to other authorities with similar responsibilities. I have a broad discretion as to the factors which may be taken into account.
To assist Southend, and other authorities reorganising in April 1998, I intend to publish indicative estimates of the level of Standard Spending Assessment which each authority would have had for 1997–98, had reorganisation taken place a year earlier.