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Enron
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received about the deaths of employees at Enron power station, Teesside; and what recent measures he has taken to improve safety at power stations in the United Kingdom. [21950]
Dr. Whitehead: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has received one representation from my hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird). The electricity industry made and continues to make representations.
To help improve health and safety at gas turbine power stations HSE published specific guidance last year and have periodic meetings with gas turbine manufacturers and users to discuss national health and safety issues.
In response to the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy the electricity industry has agreed national targets for improving health and safety over the next 10 years and developed an action plan that will include health and safety at power stations.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what annual data in respect of (a) population and (b) council tax base he has based his calculations of standard spending assessment and revenue support grant for the financial year 2002–03. [21879]
Dr. Whitehead: The provisional calculation of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) for 2002–03 use the Registrar General's estimates of mid-2000 population as provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
For the council tax base, the figures used in the provisional calculation are based on Valuation Office Agency valuation lists as at 16 October 2001, taking account of information on council tax discounts and exemptions as at 1 November 2000, based on CTB1 returns for November 2000. For the calculation for the final settlement for 2002–03, we expect to use figures based on Valuation Office Agency valuation lists as at
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16 October 2001, taking account of information on discounts and exemptions as at 1 November 2001, based on CTB1 returns for November 2001.
A table showing population (rounded to the nearest 100 persons) and council tax base for all English local authorities has been placed in the House of Commons Library. All the data used in the provisional calculations are now on the Local Government Finance website at: www.local.dtlr.gov.uk/finance/ssa/ssa0203.htm
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the effect will be on (a) the standard spending assessment and (b) the revenue support grant allocation, by authority, of the incorporation of data changes relating to the New Earnings Survey in the area cost adjustment for 2002–03. [21878]
Dr. Whitehead: A table has been placed in the Libraries of the House comparing the standard spending assessments (SSAs) and revenue support grant (RSG) allocations for 2002–03, as announced for consultation on 4 December, with what they would be if based on the area cost adjustment (ACA) for 2001–02. This shows the effect of updating the data underpinning the area cost adjustment from the New Earnings Survey for 1999 (on which the 2001–02 ACA is based) to the New Earnings Survey for 2000 (on which the 2002–03 ACA is based). The figures also include the effect of updating the rates cost element of the ACA, but this element only makes up a very small proportion of the overall adjustment. The RSG figures are before the application of floors and ceilings.
Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he intends to use his reserve capping powers this year in respect of any local authorities' council tax increases. [22732]
Mr. Raynsford: The reserve capping powers will not be used this year.
Aviation Website
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the information available on the aviation organophosphate information website; what estimate he has made of the severity of the problems identified in that site; and if he will make a statement. [22303]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government are broadly aware of concerns expressed in relation to the possible contamination of aircraft cabin air by organophosphates, but have not reviewed the contents of any websites. The Civil Aviation Authority, which has responsibility for investigating incidents involving fumes in aircraft cabins, is currently working with aircraft and engine manufacturers to identify and analyse potential aircraft cabin pollutants and to minimise the potential for engine oil leaks. A considerable amount of cabin air quality research at a European level is either under way or about to start. The Government are monitoring these developments closely and are prepared to commission specific work on organophosphates if this proves necessary.
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Education Budgets
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for each of the years 1995–96 to 2001–02 the (a) total amount of education SSA provided to LEAs, (b) the final education budget agreed by LEAs and (c) the amount by which the education budget exceeded SSA. [22369]
Dr. Whitehead: The information is given in the table:
| Year | SSA | Expenditure | Difference | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 17,024 | 17,903 | 879 | 5.2 |
| 1996–97 | 17,764 | 18,359 | 595 | 3.3 |
| 1997–98 | 17,840 | 18,237 | 397 | 2.2 |
| 1998–99 | 19,384 | 19,640 | 256 | 1.3 |
| 1999–2000 | 20,414 | 20,582 | 168 | 0.8 |
| 2000–01 | 21,479 | 21,812 | 333 | 1.6 |
| 2001–02 | 22,513 | 22,860 | 347 | 1.5 |
Expenditure data are outturns for 1995–96 and budgets for 2000–01 and 2001–02 because outturn data are not yet finalised.
Council Salaries
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what figures he has collated on the average salaries in 2001–02 of the leader and other cabinet members of each English (a) city council, (b) county council, (c) district council and (d) London borough council. [21412]
Dr. Whitehead: My Department does not collect information from councils on the average salaries of leaders and other cabinet members.
The Improvement and Development Agency has asked all English local authorities to submit information on member allowances following The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2001. Authorities are asked to send details once they have come to a decision following a review of allowances by an independent panel as required under the new regulation. The average allowances of leaders and other cabinet members of local authorities who have reviewed their schemes under the new regulations and made the information available to the Improvement and Development Agency, by local authority type, as of 4 December 2001, are as follows:
| Average allowances | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of councils | Leader (£) | Cabinet/ Executive (£) | |
| London borough | 6 | 19,454 | 9,030 |
| Met district | 8 | 20,737 | 10,155 |
| Shire county | 13 | 20,701 | 11,643 |
| Shire district | 79 | 8,444 | 4,474 |
| Unitary | 16 | 15,112 | 7,682 |
Source:
www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk, Member Allowance Summary Survey.
English Partnerships
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what means he proposes to keep hon. Members informed of the progress and outcome of the Government's Quinquennial Review of English Partnerships. [21554]
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Ms Keeble: We propose to announce the outcome of the first stage of the review to Parliament in the new year. A full report on the outcome of the review will be published at the conclusion of stage two of the review. We expect this to be completed by Easter.
Council Tax
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the figure for the council tax base of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead given in tables accompanying his statement of 4 December includes an estimate of non-collection. [21723]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 10 December 2001]: No. The council taxbase figures given in tables accompanying my statement of 4 December are for the taxbase used in the calculation of local authorities' revenue support grant
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allocations, which takes no account of council tax collection rates. It is the taxbase used by local authorities when setting council taxes that reflects an assumed collection rate.
Council Running Costs
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what figures he has collated on (a) the total cost and (b) the cost per capita in the last year for which figures are available of running (i) London borough councils (ii) English county councils, (iii) English city councils, (iv) English unitary authorities and (v) English district councils broken down into (A) administration costs, (B) electoral costs, and (C) councillor salaries. [21513]
Dr. Whitehead: English local authorities have reported the following expenditure 1 figures:
| London borough councils(15) | Metropolitan district | Unitary authorities | Shire counties(16) | Shire districts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate and Democratic Core(17) (£ million) | 166.82 | 187.41 | 167.04 | 134.62 | 317.21 |
| Administration and support services(18) (£ million) | 1,096.55 | 1,101.22 | 1,054.81 | 788.40 | 1,929.57 |
| Cost of local elections (£ million) | 1.11 | 4.75 | 3.99 | 0.32 | 19.02 |
| Population figures (million) | 7.29 | 11.13 | 8.30 | 23.04 | 23.04 |
| Corporate and Democratic Core cost per capita (£) | 22.90 | 16.83 | 20.14 | 5.84 | 13.77 |
| Administration and support services cost per capita (£) | 150.52 | 98.91 | 127.15 | 34.22 | 83.76 |
| Cost of local elections per capita (£) | 0.15 | 0.43 | 0.48 | 0.01 | 0.83 |
(14) Total expenditure consisting of employee expenses plus running expenses (includes joint arrangements).
(15) Includes City of London.
(16) Includes Isles of Scilly.
(17) Includes expenditure in Councillors' allowances and expenses.
(18) Some authorities may record some administrative and support services expenditure under individual services.
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