§ Mr. PurchaseTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2004,Official Report, column 725W, on the Transitional Protection Scheme, whether local authorities will be provided by 1 January 2005 with (a) an estimate at an individual local authority level, based upon local authority certified estimate returns submitted to the Department by 31 August, of the likely financial consequences in the current financial year of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme and (b) estimates at an individual local authority level of the potential financial implications for the 2005—06 and 2006—07 financial years of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme. [188780]
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§ Mr. PondThe amount of transitional protection to be provided to local authorities will not be known until after the end of the financial year when authorities have their subsidy claims audited.
Further advice and information has been issued to local authorities enabling them to estimate the potential gains/losses under the new subsidy system and consequently whether they may be affected by the transitional protection arrangements. HB/CTB circular S11/2003 gave further detailed information specifically on the transitional protection scheme. HB/CTB S2/2004 notified local authorities of the change to the transitional protection scheme which increased the level of protection for local authorities. Copies of both circulars are available in the Library.
Officials will be consulting shortly with local authority representatives to progress the details of how the transitional protection scheme will operate in practice.