§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to progress towards a population-based distribution formula for social services expenditure by county councils. [22268]
§ Jacqui SmithThe distribution formula for personal social services already takes account of the population base by local authority, (for example the children's formula takes account of the resident population aged 0–17), as well as relative levels of need.
The formulae are currently being reviewed in time for 2003–04 allocations. Local government representatives are being actively involved in this process, and we will be consulting widely before making final decisions.