HC Deb 20 November 2002 vol 394 c126W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what responses relating to the local government finance consultation have been received from(a) Chiltern District Council and (b) Buckinghamshire County Council; [81172]

(2) what response relating to the local government finance consultation has been received from Buckinghamshire county council in relation to education funding; and when it was received. [81174]

Mr. Raynsford

Responses to the consultation (including views on education funding) were received from both Buckinghamshire county council and Chiltern district council. Both were received by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 30 September.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responses relating to the local government finance consultation have been received from(a) South Buckinghamshire district council and (b) Wycombe district council. [82383]

Mr. Raynsford

Detailed responses to the Formula Grant Distribution consultation were received from both South Buckinghamshire and Wycombe district councils before the formal close of the consultation on 30 September 2002.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services delivered by(a) South Buckinghamshire district council, (b) Wycombe district council and (c) Buckinghamshire county council; [82384]

(2) what impact changes in the local government grant will have on public services in South Buckinghamshire. [82381]

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.