§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement summarising the changes in the responsibilities of local councils which led him to adjust the figures for the SSA and general grants for Essex county council and the Rochford district council for the current financial year. [21774]
§ Dr. WhiteheadI 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.
§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage increase in local rates will be required to be imposed by Essex county council and Rochford district council if they spend the full SSAs allocated to them for 2002–03 and receive the full general grant for that year announced on 4 December. [21775]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe responsibility for setting council tax levels lies with local authorities. The provisional local government finance settlement, announced in the House on 4 December, does not require any local authorities to set council tax at any particular level.