HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc904-5W
Mr. Rammell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is(a) the level of area cost adjustment and (b) the proportion of standard spending assessment comprising area cost adjustment for each local authority to which it is applied in 1998–99. [55284]

Mr. Raynsford

A table showing these figures for each local authority has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Mr. Rammell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his plans to consult on possible changes to the calculation of area cost adjustments. [55285]

Mr. Raynsford

A wide range of options for changing standard spending assessments were set out in the report of the Standard Spending Assessment Sub-Group. We recently met with the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government to discuss their views on the 1999/2000 SSA Settlement. We are now considering the merits of all of the options for change, including possible changes to the area cost adjustment, and expect to announce our conclusions around the usual time in late November or early December.