Local Government Finance (Hansard, 11 December 2001)

§ Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what annual data in respect of(a) population and (b) council tax base he has based his calculations of standard spending assessment and revenue support grant for the financial year 2002–03. [21879]

§ Dr. Whitehead
The provisional calculation of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) for 2002–03 use the Registrar General's estimates of mid-2000 population as provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
For the council tax base, the figures used in the provisional calculation are based on Valuation Office Agency valuation lists as at 16 October 2001, taking account of information on council tax discounts and exemptions as at 1 November 2000, based on CTB 1 returns for November 2000. For the calculation for the final settlement for 2002–03, we expect to use figures based on Valuation Office Agency valuation lists as at 801W 16 October 2001, taking account of information on discounts and exemptions as at 1 November 2001, based on CTB1 returns for November 2001.
A table showing population (rounded to the nearest 100 persons) and council tax base for all English local authorities has been placed in the House of Commons Library. All the data used in the provisional calculations are now on the Local Government Finance website at: www.local.ddr.gov.uk/finance/ssaissa0203.htm

§ Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the effect will be on(a) the standard spending assessment and (b) the revenue support grant allocation, by authority, of the incorporation of data changes relating to the New Earnings Survey in the area cost adjustment for 2002–03. [21878]

§ Dr. Whitehead
A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House comparing the standard spending assessments (SSAs) and revenue support grant (RSG) allocations for 2002–03, as announced for consultation on 4 December, with what they would be if based on the area cost adjustment (ACA) for 2001–02. This shows the effect of updating the data underpinning the area cost adjustment from the New Earnings Survey for 1999 (on which the 2001–02 ACA is based) to the New Earnings Survey for 2000 (on which the 2002–03 ACA is based). The figures also include the effect of updating the rates cost element of the ACA, but this element only makes up a very small proportion of the overall adjustment. The RSG figures are before the application of floors and ceilings.

§ Lawrie Quinn
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he intends to use his reserve capping powers this year in respect of any local authorities' council tax increases. [22732]

§ Mr. Raynsford
The reserve capping powers will not be used this year.