HC Deb 05 November 2002 vol 392 cc209-11W
Mr. Flook

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responses relating to the local government finance consultation (1) have been received from(a) Taunton Deane and (b) Somerset County Council; [79478]

(2) what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services delivered by (a) Taunton Deane Borough Council and (b) Somerset County Council; [79476]

(3) what response relating to the local government finance consultation has been received from Somerset County Council relating to education funding; and when it was received. [79477]

Mr Raynsford

Both Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane District Council submitted responses to the Formula Grant Review consultation (including the education options in the case of the county) before it closed on the 30 of September.

However, in addition the Government have received around 55,000 letters as the result of various campaigns relating to the Formula Grant Review. None of these campaigns was solely based around Somerset, but since the county is a member of the F40 group of authorities who campaign on education funding a number of those letters do relate to that council. We do not record the details of the senders of campaign letters as a matter of course. For this reason, and since very many of them are multiple copies of the same letter sent by the same people to different Ministers, a more detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

We are currently taking decisions on the new system to replace SSAs. As we do so we are carefully considering the full range of evidence, pressures and points that have been put to us. We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be around the start of December. Once the Government have allocated their grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that we will use grant "floors" to ensure that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many written representations he received in response to the Local Government Finance White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [79595]

Mr. Raynsford

As a White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" was not a consultation document, and a detailed record has not been kept of all the written correspondence received following its publication. However, the number is about 50. The White Paper was preceded by a consultation document, "Modernising Local Government Finance: A Green Paper", to which we received over 1,100 responses.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give a commitment that no local authority will receive less grant money in real terms under any proposals contained in the Local Government Finance White Paper adopted by the Government; and if he will make a statement. [79606]

Mr. Raynsford

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will announce its proposals for the new revenue grant distribution system to replace Standard Spending Assessments, including minimum "floors" on grant changes, at the point of the provisional local government finance settlement around the beginning of December. We hope at that point to improve considerably on the interim guarantee already given that no authority will receive less grant next year on a like for like basis.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what research was done by his Department into the impact of dispersal and settlement patterns on the cost of providing rural services in rural areas as part of the local government formula grant review; [79707] %

(2) what assessment he has made of rural deprivation in the local government formula grant review: [79708]

(3) what account he has taken of the cost of providing services in rural areas in the local government formula grant review. [79703]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole, Mr. Cawsey, on 4 November 2002,Official Report, c. 49W.

Mr. Stunell

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many representations he has received relating to the consultation on local government finance as it affects Stockport Metropolitan Borough. [79332]

(2) what proportion of the local government finance consultation responses relating to the Stockport Metropolitan Borough have supported (a) each of the four published options for education funding and (b) a fifth option. [79331]

Mr. Raynsford

We have two responses received from Stockport MBC and four letters from MPs. However, in addition Government has received around 55,000 letters as the result of various campaigns relating to the Formula Grant Review, including campaigns connected with the F40 group of authorities who campaign on education funding. A number of these letters do relate to Stockport.

We do not record the details of the senders of campaign letters as a matter of course. For this reason, and since very many of them are multiple copies of the same letter sent by the same people to different Ministers, it is not possible to provide a more detailed analysis except at disproportionate cost.

We are currently taking decisions on the new system to replace SSAs. As we do so we are carefully considering the full range of evidence, pressures and points that have been put to us.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the provisions in the Local Government Finance White Paper will be implemented; and if he will make a statement. [79600]

Mr. Raynsford

An implementation plan for the White Paper was published last April setting out the planned dates for delivering the major proposals in the White Paper. It is updated monthly. and is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. There has been substantial progress, including consulting on a draft Local Government Bill that takes forward many of the proposals included in the White Paper.

Mr. Nigel Evans

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact he estimates changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in the Ribble Valley. [79709]

Mr. Raynsford

We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be early in December. Once the Government has allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.