HC Deb 24 January 2000 vol 343 cc133-4W
Mr. Watts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which overseas distribution systems his Department is reviewing as part of its review of local government grant distribution systems; and when changes in the grant system will be introduced. [105917]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The DETR commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct a research project examining grant distribution systems used overseas. The initial phase of the project entailed PwC producing outline descriptions of 19 grant distribution systems used in other OECD countries. The 19 countries examined were:

  • Austria
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States.

The preliminary analysis of the 19 countries by PwC can be found on the Local Government Association (LGA) website at http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/rgd/index.htm. Discussion of the 19 outline descriptions was carried out at the joint DETR and LGA review group. The next stage of the project required eight countries to be selected by the review group for further analysis. PwC produced detailed reports on these eight countries. The eight countries were:

  • Australia
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States.

The preliminary in-depth reports produced by PwC can also be found on the LGA website. The next stage of the project required the joint DETR and LGA review group to agree which, if any, of the eight countries warranted further study. Four countries were selected for further analysis and a visit by representatives of DETR and local government. The four countries were:

  • Denmark
  • France
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden.

Papers recording the information gained from the four visits can also be found on the LGA website. PwC will shortly be producing their final report. This will bring together all the material from the research project.

The implementation of any change to the current grant distribution system will depend on the outcome of the consultation exercise taking place this summer and its timing will depend on whether legislation is required.