§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will review the proposed cuts in the Supporting People allocations for 2004–05 with a view to protecting from those cuts local authorities with low per head of population allocations; [159932]
(2) if he will reverse the proposed cuts in the Supporting People allocations for 2004–05 in respect of individual local authorities, with particular reference to Staffordshire. [159875]
§ Yvette CooperFollowing the late sharp increase in the size of the Supporting People budget last year the Government launched an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme. The review concluded that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for legacy funding, however it recommended that the pace of change needed to take account of the need to protect services for vulnerable people. This is why authorities have only been required to make a 2.5 per cent. efficiency saving in 2004–05 with an element of these funds being reallocated elsewhere on the programme. The final Supporting People grant allocations for 2004–05 have now been made and will not be reverted. Those allocations reflect a very significant increase in funding compared to two years ago.
912WDecisions about longer-term future allocations are still under consideration, but we are looking at the wide variation in provision and circumstances between authorities. The invention has always been to move towards a needs based allocation formula, the Independent Review has made recommendations on the formula and we are looking at these recommendations in detail.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 12 February 2004,Official Report, column 84WS, on Supporting People Programme 2004–05, whether reductions in funding allocation for the Supporting People Programme 2005–06 will only apply to local authorities with high unit costs. [160774]
§ Yvette CooperFuture funding for Supporting People is being considered as part of the Spending Review 2004. Additionally an accelerated inspection programme will look at 19 high cost authorities to help address this issue.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce funding allocations for the Supporting People Programme 2005–06. [160775]
§ Yvette CooperThe Supporting People funding allocations for 2005–06 for England will be announced by November 2004.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future funding of the Supporting People Programme tor(a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 in (i) the North West and (ii) Lancashire. [161350]
§ Yvette CooperThe Supporting People Programme Grant Allocations for England for 2004–05 were announced on 12 February 2004. Future years funding for the programme is being considered as part of the Spending Review 2004.