§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003,Official Report, columns 743–8, how much has been provided each year, in aggregate, for grants aimed at (a) ethnic minorities and (b) asylum seekers; and what value of the aggregate rate support grant is directed to local authorities in accordance with criteria based on those factors. [105004]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe information is as follows:
Specific Grants:
The following table shows the amount in millions provided to local authorities by central Government in specific grants for ethnic minorities and asylum seekers.
115W
Ethnic minorities Asylum seekers Race equality1 Education1 Total Education Race equality Adults and families2 UASC3 Total 1997–98 70 — 70 — — 70 — 70 1998–99 105 — 105 — — 190 — 190 1999–2000 — 91 91 — 36 217 — 253 2000–01 — 94 94 — 6 557 18 581 2001–02 7 90 97 2 — 415 110 527 2002–03 — 89 89 4 — 4 4 4 1 The figures given represent the amount provided by central government, elements of this money required matched funding from local authorities. 2 As central Government accounting practice changed in 2001–02, until that year figures for adults and families and UASC are on a cash basis and after they are given on an accruals basis. 3 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. 4 Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available for Adults and Families or UASC. Revenue Support Grant(RSG):
Revenue Support Grant and redistributed business rates are distributed through Formula Spending Shares (FSS). The Education, Personal Social Services, and Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block all use indicators which relate to ethnic minorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not distinguish asylum seekers in any of the formulae.
Since 2001–02, following the FSS calculation of grant, floors and ceilings have been applied to ensure that all authorities receive at least a certain level of grant. For example in 2003–04 authorities with education responsibilities receive at least a 3.5 per cent. increase in general grant. As a result it is not possible to calculate the amount of Revenue Support Grant that is paid out to local authorities as a result of the inclusion of ethnicity indicators in the FSS formulae.