§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister why information on the 2004–05 Local Government Finance Settlement was released after local authorities had agreed their budgets; and how he expects councils to take account of the settlement. [145008]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe provisional local government finance settlement for 2004–05 was announced on 19 November 2003, and we expect the final settlement to be debated at around the end of January or the beginning of February 2004, in line with the normal settlement timetable.
The statutory deadlines by which local authorities must set their budgets fall some time after the expected approval of the final settlement. The deadlines are; for levying bodies, 15 February; for major preceptors, 1 March; and for billing authorities, 11 March.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he expects local councils in North Yorkshire to make up the shortfall they are facing following the 2004–05 local government finance settlement; and if he will make a statement. [145009]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe provisional local government finance settlement for 2004–05 gives all local authorities in North Yorkshire an above inflation increase in formula grant. Councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber region receive an average grant increase of 5.0 per cent.