§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce a mechanism for ensuring local government ring-fence monies for waste management as part of the new spending assessment. [77513]
§ Mr. RaynsfordOur policy is to restrict ring-fencing to cases which are high priorities for Government and where we cannot achieve our policy goal by specifying output or outcome targets; any new ring-fenced grant schemes will also be time-limited. We will announce the results of the review of local government revenue grant distribution in early December. There may also be changes to waste management funding arrangements following detailed consideration of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's report on the subject.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by(a) Hampshire county council, (b) Fareham borough council, (c) Durham county council, (d) Durham city council, (e) English county councils and (f) district councils was financed bycouncil tax payers in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02. [78171]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe proportion of revenue expenditure financed from the council tax for the above local authorities and class of authorities in the years 1997–98 to 2001–02 was:
Decisions on which methodology is to be used for the local government finance formula grant distribution will not impact on the detrunking programme.