HC Deb 31 March 2004 vol 419 cc1506-7W
Mr. Hook

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new spending obligations his Department has passed to local government in Somerset since 1997; to what extent these new responsibilities have been supported by an increase in central government grant; and if he will make a statement. [164672]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government are committed to fully funding any new responsibilities it places on local government through the New Burdens principle. The Government do not hold information on the extent of new responsibilities in Somerset since 1997. However Somerset has benefited from the 30 per cent. real term increase in overall Government grant for local authorities since 1997, which has enabled local authorities to comply with new responsibilities while continuing to improve services. This grant increase provides funding for the cost pressures and new burdens on local government including those identified with the Local Government Association in the context of the relevant Spending Review.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of external debt was in each local authority in(a) Devon and (b) Cornwall in each of the last seven years; and what the cost of servicing the debt was in each year. [164793]

Mr. Raynsford

The level of external debt in each local authority in Devon and Cornwall in each of the last seven years is in the following table. Figures for 1998 and 1999 are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Level of external debt in Devon and Cornwall by local authority at 31 March
£ million
1997 2000 2001 2002 2003
Devon 243 309 332 340 368
East Devon 0 1 2 4 6
Exeter 14 13 10 0 0
Mid Devon 5 4 5 5 5
North Devon 12 7 2 0 2
South Hams 12 9 0 0 0

External interest payments in Devon and Cornwall by local authority
£ million
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–041
Devon 22.0 15.5 14.4 13.4 13.4 13.4 17.3
East Devon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Exeter 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.6 0.0 0.0
Mid Devon 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
North Devon 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0
South Hams 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0
Teignbridge 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1
Torridge 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4
West Devon 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0
Caradon 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4
Carrick 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Cornwall 10.3 10.5 10.8 11.3 11.6 12.0 12.9
Kerrier 1.7 1.8 1.3 1.3 0.7 0.5 0.5
North Cornwall 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Penwith 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Restormel 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.3
1Budgeted figures.

Sources:

1997–98 to 2002–03 ODPM Revenue Summary Returns.

2003–04 ODPM Budget Estimate Returns.

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