§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to revise and re-issue the consultation document for the 2002–03 Local Government Finance Settlement published on 4 December 2002, taking into account errors subsequently identified; and if he will make a statement. [22709]
§ Dr. WhiteheadIn line with practice in previous years, the Department will shortly be issuing further information to local authorities, which include such data as are available now but were not available in time for inclusion in the data sent out on 4 December 2001. A copy of this information will be placed in the House Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House on 18 December 2001,Official Report, column 137, his intention to meet the concern raised by shire districts 513W during the consultation on the settlement, in relation to the way in which their grant floor has been calculated. We will announce the full details of how we will do this at the time of the final settlement, around the end of January 2002.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the content of the letter dated 6 December to himself from Sir Jeremy Beecham, with particular reference to the points relating to the local government settlement for Lewes district council; [22950]
(2) for what reasons certain district councils will not benefit from the minimum increase of 2.3 per cent,provided to councils as part of his recent statement on the local government settlement. [23190]
§ Dr. Whitehead[holding answer 17 December 2001]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush (Mr. Soley) on 18 December 2001,Official Report, column 137.