§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister which(a) local authorities and (b) regional assemblies (i) have received and (ii) will receive planning grants in 2003–04; what (A) methodology and (B) consultation is being used by his Department concerning its distribution; what funds will be allocated for planning in 2004–05; and for what reason this grant is not ring fenced. [144203]
§ Keith HillThe recipients of planning delivery grant in 2003–04 were all district, unitary, metropolitan district and London borough councils, all national park authorities, all regional planning bodies, together with the common council of the City of London, the council of the Isles of Scilly, the Broads authority and the Greater London Authority. Their grant for 2003–04 has been paid in full.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister set out the methodology for the distribution of the grant in a letter sent on 10 February 2003 to hon. Members. I have sent a further copy of that letter to the hon. Member. Before the announcement of the allocations was made, we consulted key stakeholders about the method of distribution.
The amount of planning delivery grant to be allocated in 2004–05 is £130 million.
The planning delivery grant is not ring fenced in line with our general policy on grants to local government whereby local authorities are free to consider how best to deliver outcomes. In the case of the planning delivery grant, there is an incentive to spend the grant on planning services because further allocations will only be made if planning performance continues to improve.