HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc168-9W
Harry Cohen

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for(a) London Borough of Waltham Forest, (b) London Borough of Redbridge and (c) London boroughs as a whole (i) the amount of grant received in the 2002£03 settlement and what percentage this was of the overall national settlement; and (ii) the amount of grant received in the 2003–04 settlement and what percentage this is of the overall national settlement.[91094]

Mr. Raynsford

The table shows the amount of Revenue Support Grant, nationally redistributed non-domestic rates and principal formula Police Grant received in 2002–03, and the proposed amount for 2003–04. The House will have the opportunity to debate the final amounts for 2003–04 in due course.

2002–03 2003–04
£ million Percentage of total £ million Percentage of total
Waltham Forest 203.903 0.5 216.753 0.5
Redbridge 175.930 0.4 190.573 0.4
London boroughs 6.228.817 15.4 6728.282 15.3
England 40323.132 100.0 43892.049 100.0

Harry Cohen

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which London local authorities have received the floor level of grant in the recent local authorities financial settlement; and if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the decision in each case. [91095]

Mr. Raynsford

The following authorities had the minimum 3.5 per cent. like-for-like increase in grant (excluding capital adjustments) in the provisional settlement: Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond-upon-Thames, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.

The principal reasons for these outcomes are substantial losses of population in many boroughs arising from the 2001 Census and relative reductions in wage levels in the outer eastern boroughs affecting their area cost adjustment. There are many other factors affecting these authorities, both positively and negatively.