§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the additional £344 million allocated to local authorities in December 2003 by the Treasury will be incorporated into the Revenue Support Grant settlement figure for future years. [150136]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe additional £340 million which Government have made available for local authorities in 2004–05 is a one-off payment for this year. The amount of money available for local government beyond 2004–05 will be as set out in the relevant Spending Review.
However, the extra funding put into the 2004–05 settlement will be taken into account when calculating floors and ceilings for future years.
§ Mr. DjanoglyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the issuing of directions to local authorities before those authorities have completed local consultations on the matters to which such directions relate; and if he will make a statement. [150808]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Minister for Local and Regional Government will exercise powers under section 15 of the Local Government Act 1999 and other comparable legislation when there is clear evidence that an authority is failing either to discharge its functions adequately or failing to meet its statutory obligations. Further details are set out612W in the Protocol on "Central government engagement in poorly performing local authorities" http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_localgov/documents/page/odpm_locgov_609124.pdf