§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list in(a) cash terms and (b) 2001–02 prices the SSA and AEF figures for (i) Wiltshire county council, (ii) West Wiltshire district council and (iii) Salisbury district council for each year since 1996–97. [5193]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThe data requested are given in the table.
526W
SSA Total external support1 Cash terms 2001–02 prices Cash terms 2001–02 prices Wiltshire CC 1996–972 327.959 370.499 233.338 263.605 1997–98 237.116 260.486 164.162 180.341 1998–99 246.919 263.725 166.981 178.347 1999–2000 261.572 273.154 176.765 184.592
SSA Total external support1 Cash terms 2001–02 prices Cash terms 2001–02 prices 2000–01 276.154 283.058 186.137 190.790 2001–02 289.458 289.458 193.974 193.974 West Wiltshire 1996–97 8.764 9.900 5.692 6.431 1997–98 8.648 9.500 5.559 6.107 1998–99 8.522 9.102 5.278 5.637 1999–2000 8.762 9.150 5.373 5.611 2000–01 9.024 9.249 5.496 5.634 2001–02 9.508 9.508 5.690 5.690 Salisbury CC 1996–97 10.212 11.537 7.251 8.192 1997–98 9.987 10.971 6.803 7.474 1998–99 9.486 10.132 6.331 6.762 1999–2000 9.771 10.204 6.331 6.611 2000–01 10.081 10.333 6.402 6.562 2001–02 10.494 10.494 6.572 6.572 1 Total external support comprises the sum of Revenue Support Grant, redistributed National Non-Domestic Rates, SSA Reduction Grant (SSA Review) and, from 1998–99 onwards, Central Support Protection Grant. 2 The data for 1996–97 include an amount to cover the Thamesdown area. On 1 April 1997 Wiltshire was reorganised with Thamesdown borough council becoming a unitary council, Swindon borough council. Services previously undertaken by Wiltshire county council for this area became the responsibility of Swindon borough council. Data for 1997–98 onwards for Wiltshire county council do not cover the Swindon area.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the methodology changes made since 1997 to the formulae for calculating the standard spending assessment and aggregate external finance figures for(a) Wiltshire county council, (b) West Wiltshire district council and (c) Salisbury district council; and if he will estimate the net financial effect of these changes. [5192]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThere were 15 changes in the method of determining Standard Spending assessments (SSAs) for the 1998–99 Local Government Finance Settlement; and 20 changes for the 1999–2000 Local Government Finance Settlement.
In 1999–2000 the Government introduced a new damping grant, Central Support Protection Grant (CSPG), to ensure that no authority received less grant than the year before, and that authorities which had education and personal social services responsibilities received at least 1.5 per cent. more than the year before.
The July 1998 Local Government White Paper announced a three year review of Revenue grant Distribution. It said that the Government did not expect to make fresh changes to the method of calculation of SSAs except where there are changes in the functions of councils, or the funding of particular services.
In 2000–01 there were therefore only limited adjustments to SSAs to accommodate the establishment of the Greater London Authority and related changes, most notably those arising from the alterations to the boundary of the Metropolitan police district and the Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey police areas. CSPG was retained in 2000–01.
527WIn 2001–02 there was only one change in the method of determining SSAs to reflect the transfer of funding for nursery education for four year olds. CSPG was replaced for those authorities with education and personal social services responsibilities by floors and ceilings, which guaranteed that no authority would receive less than a 3.2 per cent. increase and that no authority could get more than a 6.5 per cent. increase.
Changes in the method of determining SSAs are contained in circular letters to local authorities, dated 2 December 1997, 2 December 1998, 25 November 1999
Percentage Wiltshire West Wiltshire Salisbury Year Change against adjusted SSAs Of which change due to methodology Change against adjusted SSAs Of which change due to methodology Change against adjusted SSAs Of which change due to methodology 1998–99 2.0 1.8 -1.5 -0.9 -5.0 -5.7 1999–2000 5.9 -0.6 2.8 -0.9 3.0 -0.4 2000–01 5.6 0.0 3.0 0.0 3.2 0.0 2001–02 4.8 0.0 4.5 0.0 3.1 0.0 Note:
It is not possible to perform a similar analysis for aggregate external finance.