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National Non-domestic Rates
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the estimate he has made of national non-domestic rates available for distribution in 1996-97 and 1997-98 and (b) the percentage difference in both cash and real terms between the two years; and if he will list the differences between the two years. [10479]
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Sir Paul Beresford: The information requested is as follows:
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | Percentage difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distributable Amount of non-domestic rates | |||
| --cash prices | 12,736 | 12,027 | -5.6 |
| --1996-97 prices | 12,736 | 11,791 | -7.4 |
For a list of the differences between the two years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North-East (Mr. Congdon) on 27 November, Official Report, columns 242-44.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Allason: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from what date the shadow unitary local authorities scheduled to come into effect in April 1998 are permitted to enter into PFI contracts. [10439]
Sir Paul Beresford: Where an authority gaining unitary status is an existing county or district council, it will be a continuing authority and there is no need for a shadow council; the role of the authority acquiring new functions is expanded to encompass the shadow role. In these cases, whether the authority can enter a PFI contract before it assumes full unitary powers depends on whether the contract pertains to one of its existing or one of its new functions. If it concerns one of the new functions, the authority can enter into a contract only if it will facilitate the preparation for the discharge of its new functions.
There are only two authorities which will be new authorities with a shadow council elected in 1997 and with assumption of full unitary status on 1 April 1998. A shadow authority may enter into contracts only pursuant to those functions which include powers to facilitate the preparation for the discharge of its new functions.
South Yorkshire Supertram
Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect of the South Yorkshire supertram project on the rates of council tax in Barnsley metropolitan borough council from April 1997. [10321]
Sir Paul Beresford: Under the Secretary of State's provisional capping principles, the South Yorkshire supertram project would have no impact on council taxes in Barnsley. It is, of course for Barnsley to decide whether to spend up to its cap.
Local Government Finance
Ms Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the (a) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (b) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, standard spending assessment reduction grant and police grants to be received by (i) each individual local authority, (ii) education authorities and (iii) all authorities in (1) 1997-98 and (2) 1996-97 and for
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each the change over 1996-97 and (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, adjusting 1996-97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997-98, and the transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997-98; and if he will supply this information in written and machine-readable forms; [10694]
- (2) what is the (a) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (b) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, standard spending assessment reduction grant and police grants to be received by (i) each group of local authority classified by Department of Environment regions, (ii) each group of education authority classified by Department of the Environment region and (iii) all authorities classified by Department of the Environment region in (1) 1997-98 and (2) 1996-97 and for each the change over 1996-97 in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms, adjusting 1996-97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for
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- changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997-98, and the transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997-98; and if he will supply this information in written and machine-readable forms. [10702]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are (a) the provisional standard spending assessment for 1997-98, (b) the standard spending assessment for 1997-98 as it would have been had the Elliott report on area cost adjustments been implemented and (c) the difference between those two figures expressed in (i) percentage and (ii) cash terms for (1) Buckinghamshire county council, (2) Aylesbury Vale district council, (3) Chiltern district council, (4) Wycombe district council and (5) the Thames Valley police authority; and if he will make a statement. [10682]
Sir Paul Beresford: The information is contained in the table.
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| 1997-98 provisional SSA using proposed ACA factors | Hypothetical 1997-98 SSA using ACA factors from Elliott report (rounded) | Difference (rounded) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ million | £ million | £ million | £ Per cent. | |
| Buckinghamshire CC | 282.824 | 292.4 | +7.5 | +2.6 |
| Aylesbury Vale DC | 12.491 | 13.2 | +0.8 | +6.1 |
| Chiltern DC | 6.939 | 7.0 | +0.1 | +0.9 |
| Wycombe DC | 13.249 | 14.0 | +0.7 | +5.4 |
| Thames Valley Police | 103.541 | 106.3 | +2.8 | +2.7 |
The hypothetical SSAs using ACA factors from the Elliott report are approximate. They are believed to be a reasonable guide to the extent of the difference in SSAs, but would require detailed refinements if they were to be used in determining revenue support grant.
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Coal Mines (Injuries)
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major injuries were reported under the requirements of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for all United Kingdom coal mines for the year April 1995 to March 1996. [10685]
Sir Paul Beresford: The number of major injuries reported to HM inspectorate of mines occurring in UK coal mines for 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 was 159.
WALES
Adult Education (Learning Disabilities)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total funding in Wales, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, for adult education for people with learning disabilities; what is the projected spending for the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [10200]
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Mr. Hague: Expenditure of this kind is determined by local authorities and other bodies; aggregate information is not collected centrally.
Consultants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the amount spent on external consultants by his Department's non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [10184]
Mr. Hague: None. This is a matter for individual non-departmental public bodies to determine as part of the day-to-day management of their affairs.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the actions his Department has taken on each of the recommendations contained in the Cabinet Office report, "The Government's Use of External Consultants."[10185]
Mr. Hague: My Department has reviewed its procedures to take account of the scrutiny report recommendations. The revised arrangements have been applied to all consultancies undertaken in this financial year.
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Skilled Workers
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the number of skilled workers in Wales (a) in employment and (b) unemployed.[9890]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The spring 1996 labour force survey estimates of the skills of persons in Wales are shown in the following table:
| Thousands | ||
|---|---|---|
| Skill type | In employment | ILO unemployed(27) |
| Professional/intermediate | 380 | 15 |
| Skilled (non manual) | 242 | 16 |
| Skilled (manual) | 266 | 21 |
| Partly skilled | 187 | 24 |
| Unskilled | 66 | 10 |
(26) Excludes persons in the armed forces and those who did not answer.
(27) Skill type defined by last job. Information on the skills of the ILO unemployed who have never worked (estimated to be 14,000 people in Wales) are not available from the Labour Force Survey.
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