HC Deb 16 February 2000 vol 344 cc548-9W
Mr. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will exempt from being classified as excessive council tax rises the consequences of complying with the proposals of the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for passporting the increase in education standard spending assessments to education budgets. [110414]

Ms Armstrong

The Secretary of State will not be deciding whether to determine any principles to identify excessive budgets until all local authorities have set their budgets for 2000–01.

Mr. Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on hypothecating standard spending assessments. [110413]

Ms Armstrong

Standard Spending Assessments are a component of the calculation of Revenue Support Grant, which is unhypothecated.