House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 26 Nov 2002 (pt 28)

26 Nov 2002 : Column 252W—continued

Probation Service (Surrey)

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of Government grants to the Surrey Probation Service was in each of the last five years. [82091]

26 Nov 2002 : Column 253W

Hilary Benn: Home Office Grant to Surrey Probation Service (Surrey local area from April 2001) for the financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02 is in the following table.

£

Home Office grant Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Total grant

Revenue grant

2001–02⁽²²⁾ 6,533,000 Nil 6,533,000

2000–01⁽²³⁾ 5,065,608 1,256,402 6,322,010

1999–2000⁽²³⁾ 4,735,765 1,183,941 5,919,706

1998–99⁽²³⁾ 4,605,734 1,151,433 5,757,167

1997–98⁽²³⁾ 4,673,058 1,168,264 5,841,322

Capital grant

2001–02⁽²²⁾ 374,293 Nil 374,293

2000–01⁽²³⁾ 43,307 10,827 54,134

1999–2000⁽²³⁾ 37,482 9,370 46,852

1998–99⁽²³⁾ 85,009 21,252 106,261

1997–98⁽²³⁾ 34,882 8,720 43,602

	Home Office grant	Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	Total grant
Revenue grant
2001–02⁽²²⁾	6,533,000	Nil	6,533,000
2000–01⁽²³⁾	5,065,608	1,256,402	6,322,010
1999–2000⁽²³⁾	4,735,765	1,183,941	5,919,706
1998–99⁽²³⁾	4,605,734	1,151,433	5,757,167
1997–98⁽²³⁾	4,673,058	1,168,264	5,841,322

Capital grant
2001–02⁽²²⁾	374,293	Nil	374,293
2000–01⁽²³⁾	43,307	10,827	54,134
1999–2000⁽²³⁾	37,482	9,370	46,852
1998–99⁽²³⁾	85,009	21,252	106,261
1997–98⁽²³⁾	34,882	8,720	43,602

⁽²²⁾ he National Probation Service was established on 1 April 2001 and 100 per cent. grant funding was provided by the Home Office to local probation areas.

⁽²³⁾ Prior to April 2001, the Home Office provided 80 per cent. grant funding to probation services. Local authorities funded the balance of 20 per cent. from grant provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

Public Enquiry Office, Lunar House

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were dealt with at the PEO at Lunar House on Monday 11 November. [81502]

Beverley Hughes: There were 1,129 callers to Croydon's Public Enquiry Office on 11 November 2002.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Authorities (Fraud)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) local authority staff and (b) members of the public were found to have been involved in fraudulent activities against local authorities in each year since 1997; and at what financial cost. [83270]

Mr. Leslie: Auditors appointed by the Audit Commission have been instructed to report to the commission all cases of fraud over £1,000 in value. Benefit frauds of up to £5,000 can be reported jointly, but those over £5,000 are reported individually. The number of fraud cases arising from staff actions (some of which involved more than one member of staff) were:

Year Number of cases Total value (£) Including number of benefits cases Value of benefits cases (£)

1997–98 1,372 5,093,871 729 1,126,680

1998–99 936 3,409,833 369 809,039

1999–2000 877 4,212,967 405 762,907

2000–01 1,304 4,378,461 722 1,838,833

Totals 4,489 17,095,132 2,225 4,537,459

Year	Number of cases	Total value (£)	Including number of benefits cases	Value of benefits cases (£)
1997–98	1,372	5,093,871	729	1,126,680
1998–99	936	3,409,833	369	809,039
1999–2000	877	4,212,967	405	762,907
2000–01	1,304	4,378,461	722	1,838,833
Totals	4,489	17,095,132	2,225	4,537,459

Figures on the exact number of members of the public involved in fraudulent activities against local authorities

26 Nov 2002 : Column 254W

are not held centrally. The number of fraud cases arising from actions outside of local authorities (for example members of the public, suppliers etc.) were:

Year Number of cases Total value (£) Value of benefits cases (£)

1997–98 231,540 83,605,802 76,792,355

1998–99 229,826 100,985,614 93,891,266

1999–2000 145,302 96,258,275 91,683,235

2000–01 111,890 100,005,357 92,948,383

Totals 718,558 380,855,048 355,315,239

Year	Number of cases	Total value (£)	Value of benefits cases (£)
1997–98	231,540	83,605,802	76,792,355
1998–99	229,826	100,985,614	93,891,266
1999–2000	145,302	96,258,275	91,683,235
2000–01	111,890	100,005,357	92,948,383
Totals	718,558	380,855,048	355,315,239

Local Government Finance

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what proportion of the standard spending assessments in each local authority in England and Wales was financed by total external support in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement; [82816]

(a)

(b)

(i)

Mr. Raynsford: The figures for the proportion of the standard spending assessments in each local authority in England that was financed by total external support in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 2002–03 have been placed in the House Library. Figures for Welsh authorities are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The figures for the level of total external support and standard spending assessment for each individual local authority in England in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 2002–03 have been placed in the House Library. Figures for Welsh authorities are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Total external support consists of revenue support grant, redistributed national non-domestic rates, central support protection grant, SSA reduction grant, principal formula police grant and GLA general grant.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in North Devon; and if he will make a statement. [83780]

Mr. Raynsford: We will announce the new system for distributing Formula Grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be around the start of December. Once the Government has allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the level of central funding by his Department of (a) Cheshire county council, (b) Chester city council, (c) Vale Royal borough council and

26 Nov 2002 : Column 255W

(d) Crewe and Nantwich borough council in each of the last five years; and what the average funding of county, city and borough councils in England was in those years. [81263]

Mr. Raynsford: The available information on funding provided by my Office for the local authorities for which figures were requested is given in the tables.

26 Nov 2002 : Column 256W

The figures included in the tables exclude funding provided by the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions for areas of work that are now the responsibility of the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Cheshire county council£000

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Revenue funding

Revenue support grant 245,586 156,322 160,037 152,227 166,347

Redistributed business rates 190,219 136,007 148,064 168,034 163,467

Beacon council grant — — — — 39

Invest to save budget⁽²⁴⁾ — — — 235 235

Total revenue funding 435,805 292,329 308,101 320,496 330,088

Capital funding

Basic credit approvals issued 6,515 6,160 6,831 6,554 4,237

Reorganisation costs SCA⁽²⁵⁾ 2,169 1,980 — — —

Capital challenge—non-housing SCA⁽²⁵⁾ 1,285 1,525 550 — —

Social housing grant — — — — 13

Total capital funding 9,969 9,665 7,381 6,554 4,250

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Revenue funding
Revenue support grant	245,586	156,322	160,037	152,227	166,347
Redistributed business rates	190,219	136,007	148,064	168,034	163,467
Beacon council grant	—	—	—	—	39
Invest to save budget⁽²⁴⁾	—	—	—	235	235
Total revenue funding	435,805	292,329	308,101	320,496	330,088

Capital funding
Basic credit approvals issued	6,515	6,160	6,831	6,554	4,237
Reorganisation costs SCA⁽²⁵⁾	2,169	1,980	—	—	—
Capital challenge—non-housing SCA⁽²⁵⁾	1,285	1,525	550	—	—
Social housing grant	—	—	—	—	13
Total capital funding	9,969	9,665	7,381	6,554	4,250

⁽²⁴⁾25 per cent. is capital funding

⁽²⁵⁾SCA = supplementary credit approvals

Chester city council£000

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Revenue funding

Revenue support grant 3,430 3,390 3,381 3,223 3,458

Redistributed business rates 3,812 3,824 4,082 4,521 4,412

Central support protection grant — — 100 — —

Housing revenue account subsidy⁽²⁶⁾ 4,989 4,341 3,807 2,220 72

Supporting people grant — — — — 20

Total revenue funding 12,231 11,555 11,370 9,964 7,962

Capital funding

Basic credit approvals issued — — 2,163 2,628 624

Capital challenge—non-housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾ 1,218 491 — — —

Capital receipts initiative—non-housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾ — 159 — — —

Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾ 310 1,090 964 — —

Cash incentive scheme SCA⁽²⁷⁾ 140 65 — — —

Social housing grant 53 20 235 — 321

Housing defects grants—loan charges: repurchase⁽²⁸⁾ 2 2 2 2 2

Single regeneration budget⁽²⁹⁾ 672 912 897 745 706

Total capital funding 2,395 2,739 4,261 3,375 1,653

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Revenue funding
Revenue support grant	3,430	3,390	3,381	3,223	3,458
Redistributed business rates	3,812	3,824	4,082	4,521	4,412
Central support protection grant	—	—	100	—	—
Housing revenue account subsidy⁽²⁶⁾	4,989	4,341	3,807	2,220	72
Supporting people grant	—	—	—	—	20
Total revenue funding	12,231	11,555	11,370	9,964	7,962

Capital funding
Basic credit approvals issued	—	—	2,163	2,628	624
Capital challenge—non-housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾	1,218	491	—	—	—
Capital receipts initiative—non-housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾	—	159	—	—	—
Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽²⁷⁾	310	1,090	964	—	—
Cash incentive scheme SCA⁽²⁷⁾	140	65	—	—	—
Social housing grant	53	20	235	—	321
Housing defects grants—loan charges: repurchase⁽²⁸⁾	2	2	2	2	2
Single regeneration budget⁽²⁹⁾	672	912	897	745	706
Total capital funding	2,395	2,739	4,261	3,375	1,653

⁽²⁶⁾ HRA subsidy figures for 2001–02 are estimates, as payments have yet to be completed. Chester city council has been given permission to close its housing revenue account, but has not yet done so.

⁽²⁷⁾ SCA = supplementary credit approvals.

⁽²⁸⁾ Eligible for housing defects grant in 2000–01 and 2001–02, but not claimed.

⁽²⁹⁾ Paid to Chester city council as the accountable body for the regeneration of West Chester project. This excludes any SRB funding paid to the council as project deliverer.

Crewe and Nantwich£000

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Revenue funding

Revenue support grant 3,107 3,258 3,166 2,996 3,289

SSA reduction grant 284 — — — —

Redistributed business rates 3,606 3,646 3,924 4,359 4,289

Central support protection grant — — 98 — —

Housing revenue account subsidy⁽³⁰⁾ 3,781 3,379 3,044 2,520 5,677

Supporting people grant — — — — 20

Total revenue funding 10,778 10,283 10,232 9,875 13,275

Capital funding

Basic credit approvals issued 914 650 752 2,747 447

Capital receipts initiative—non-housing SCA⁽³¹⁾ — 50 — — —

Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽³¹⁾ 256 900 747 — —

Social housing grant 24 — 41 44 206

Housing defects grants for loan charges: reinstatements⁽³²⁾ 52 52 52 52 52

Housing defects grants for loan charges: repurchase⁽³²⁾ 2 2 2 2 2

Total capital funding 1,248 1,654 1,594 2,845 707

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Revenue funding
Revenue support grant	3,107	3,258	3,166	2,996	3,289
SSA reduction grant	284	—	—	—	—
Redistributed business rates	3,606	3,646	3,924	4,359	4,289
Central support protection grant	—	—	98	—	—
Housing revenue account subsidy⁽³⁰⁾	3,781	3,379	3,044	2,520	5,677
Supporting people grant	—	—	—	—	20
Total revenue funding	10,778	10,283	10,232	9,875	13,275
Capital funding
Basic credit approvals issued	914	650	752	2,747	447
Capital receipts initiative—non-housing SCA⁽³¹⁾	—	50	—	—	—
Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽³¹⁾	256	900	747	—	—
Social housing grant	24	—	41	44	206
Housing defects grants for loan charges: reinstatements⁽³²⁾	52	52	52	52	52
Housing defects grants for loan charges: repurchase⁽³²⁾	2	2	2	2	2
Total capital funding	1,248	1,654	1,594	2,845	707

⁽³⁰⁾ HRA subsidy figures for 2001–02 are estimates, as payments have yet to be completed.

⁽³¹⁾ SCA = supplementary credit approvals.

⁽³²⁾ 2001–02 housing defects grant figures are provisional.

26 Nov 2002 : Column 257W

Vale Royal£000

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Revenue funding

Revenue support grant 1,936 1,935 1,819 1,557 1,809

SSA reduction grant 30 — — — —

Redistributed business rates 3,640 3,696 4,014 4,485 4,442

Central support protection grant — — 132 — —

Housing revenue account subsidy⁽³³⁾ 2,979 2,268 1,721 1,321 4,953

Neighbourhood warden team — — — — 23

Supporting people grant — — — — 20

Invest to save budget⁽³⁴⁾ — — — 48 —

Total revenue funding 8,585 7,899 7,686 7,411 11,247

Capital funding

Basic credit approvals issued 697 193 603 2,570 707

Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽³⁵⁾ 303 1,048 901 — —

Cash incentive scheme SCA⁽³⁵⁾ 17 — — — —

Total capital funding 1,017 1,241 1,504 2,570 707

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Revenue funding
Revenue support grant	1,936	1,935	1,819	1,557	1,809
SSA reduction grant	30	—	—	—	—
Redistributed business rates	3,640	3,696	4,014	4,485	4,442
Central support protection grant	—	—	132	—	—
Housing revenue account subsidy⁽³³⁾	2,979	2,268	1,721	1,321	4,953
Neighbourhood warden team	—	—	—	—	23
Supporting people grant	—	—	—	—	20
Invest to save budget⁽³⁴⁾	—	—	—	48	—
Total revenue funding	8,585	7,899	7,686	7,411	11,247

Capital funding
Basic credit approvals issued	697	193	603	2,570	707
Capital receipts initiative—housing SCA⁽³⁵⁾	303	1,048	901	—	—
Cash incentive scheme SCA⁽³⁵⁾	17	—	—	—	—
Total capital funding	1,017	1,241	1,504	2,570	707

⁽³³⁾ HRA subsidy figures for 2001–02 are estimates, as payments have yet to be completed.

⁽³⁴⁾ 25 per cent. is capital funding.

⁽³⁵⁾ SCA = supplementary credit approvals.

The following table gives information on the combined total of revenue support grant and redistributed businesses rates paid to shire county councils and shire district councils in each of the last five years.

26 Nov 2002 : Column 258W

Revenue support grant and redistributed business rates£ million

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Shire counties 6,478 10,048 10,545 11,036 11,524

Shire districts 1,348 1,346 1,377 1,430 1,496

Average amount per authority

Shire counties 190.5 295.5 310.1 324.6 338.9

Shire districts 5.2 5.7 5.8 6.0 6.3

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Shire counties	6,478	10,048	10,545	11,036	11,524
Shire districts	1,348	1,346	1,377	1,430	1,496

Average amount per authority
Shire counties	190.5	295.5	310.1	324.6	338.9
Shire districts	5.2	5.7	5.8	6.0	6.3

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