HC Deb 18 November 2002 vol 394 cc26-7W
Norman Lamb

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account he has taken of the extra cost of providing services in rural areas in the local government formula grant review. [80929]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my honourable friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 49W.

Mr. Leigh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account he has taken of the cost of providing services in rural areas in the local government formula grant review. [80389]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my honourable friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 49W.

Mr. Leigh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of rural deprivation in the local government formula grant review. [80390]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my honourable friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 52W.

Mr. Leigh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in West Lincolnshire. [80391]

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 around the start of 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.

Mr. Leigh

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research was done by his Department into the impact of dispersal and settlement patterns on the cost of providing services in rural areas as part of the local government formula grant review. [80392]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my honourable friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, columns 49–50W.

Norman Lamb

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of rural deprivation in the local government formula grant review. [80930]

Mr. Raynsford

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my honourable friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 52W.