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28 Jan 2004 : Column 426W—continued
World Social Forum
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department (a) was represented at and (b) sent observers to the World Social Forum held in Mumbai this month. [149963]
Hilary Benn: Two Social Development Advisers from DFID's office in New Delhi attended the World Social Forum held in Mumbai, India from 16 to 21 January, as Delegates. Also, an official from DFID London attended the Forum as an Observer. Feedback suggests that their contribution to the broad range of issues discussed was highly valued.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Area Cost Adjustment
Mr. Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason the data used to calculate area cost adjustment includes pay data for the public sector; and if he will make it his policy to use only private sector pay rates in future calculations. [151129]
Mr. Raynsford: The area cost adjustment (ACA) is the element of the funding formula which takes account of the different costs of labour and non domestic rates between areas. The labour cost element of the ACA is calculated using hourly wage data for both the public and private sector from the New Earnings Survey (NES).
To use exclusively private sector pay in calculating the ACA would take little account of how any public sector employers, such as the NHS, affect pay in their local labour market. Private sector wages also vary more across the country than public sector wages because many public sector employees are paid according to national pay scales. To base the ACA on private sector wages alone would overstate the variability in staff costs for local authorities across the country.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recently reviewed the grant distribution system and introduced new formula from 2003–04. It was announced in the 2001 White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" (CM5237) that the funding formulae
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will be frozen for at least 2004–05 and 2005–06. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not intend to change the way that the ACA is calculated during this period.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reason the data used to calculate area cost adjustment excludes overtime pay data; and if he will make it his policy to include such data in future calculations. [151130]
Mr. Raynsford: The area cost adjustment (ACA) is the element of the funding formula which takes account of the different costs of labour and non domestic rates between areas. The labour cost element of the ACA is calculated using hourly wage data excluding overtime from the New Earnings Survey (NES). The NES is a snapshot of the wages people earn in a given week in April each year.
In calculating the ACA the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister need to be able to compare wage costs in different areas on a consistent basis. This is why the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister looks at hourly rather than weekly wages, and why the wage data used is only taken from those on adult pay rates, whose weekly wage has not been affected by absence and excludes overtime. The availability of overtime to individual workers is erratic. Because the NES is a snapshot, it is impossible to tell whether an individual is working overtime as a routine part of their job, or because a colleague is sick and the firm needs cover. And overtime payments often depend on the time and day overtime is worked. All of which diminishes our ability to compare labour costs between areas on a like for like basis.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced in the 2001 White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" (CM5237) that the funding formulae will be frozen for at least 2004–05 and 2005–06. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not intend to change the way that the ACA is calculated during this period.
Fire and Rescue Service
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Essex's Fire Service; [149693]
- (2) what discussions he has had with the Essex Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; [149695]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; and what their advice was; [149699]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; [149700]
(5) what effect regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex will have on fire stations in (a) Colchester, (b) Manningtree, (c) Dovercourt, (d) Frinton, (e) Clacton, (f) Brightlingsea, (g) Weeley, (h) Wivenhoe, (i) West Mersea, (j) Tollesbury, (k) Tiptree, (l) Coggeshall and (m) Halstead. [149705]
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(6) whether the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex will be regionalised whether or not the people of Essex will vote for an elected regional assembly. [149718]
Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Buckingham, Taunton, North Thanet, North Wiltshire, Runnymede and Weybridge, South East Cambridgeshire, Brentwood and Ongar, Poole and Spelthorne on 22 January 2003, Official Report, columns 1456–58W.
A 'soundings exercise', inviting views, information and evidence on the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum on the creation of an elected regional assembly was held between December 2002 and May 2003. A summary of material received in this soundings exercise is available in the Library of the House. In the light of the views expressed, no referendum is currently planned for the East of England.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what community consultation he has held in Staffordshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; [149848]
- (2) what discussions he has had with the Staffordshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service. [149850]
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Hereford and Worcester's Fire Service; [149833]
- (2) what discussions he has had with the West Mercia Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; [149835]
(3) what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Hereford and Worcester on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; and what their advice was; [149839]
(4) what community consultation he has held in Hereford and Worcester on his plans to regionalise the Fire Service; [149840]
(5) what research relating to Hereford and Worcester he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire Service. [149841]
Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to the hon. Members for Buckingham, Taunton, North Thanet, North Wiltshire, Runnymede and Weybridge, South East Cambridgeshire, Brentwood and Ongar, Poole and Spelthorne on 22 January 2004, Official Report, columns 1456–58W.
Leaseholders (Insurance)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to introduce a commencement order under the Commonhold and Leasehold Act 2002 to prevent landlords from insisting that their leasehold tenants use a particular insurance company to insure their property. [151541]
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Keith Hill: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 569W.
Leisure Facilities (Brent, East)
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Audit Commission has made of leisure facilities in Brent East. [151122]
Mr. Raynsford: The Audit Commission carried out an inspection of the London Borough of Brent's Sport and Leisure facilities in April 2002, in which the council was awarded a poor, no star score with poor prospects for improvement. The council has made investments in this area and an Audit Commission inspection team is planning to return to Brent later this year to check on the council's progress.
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Local Government
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the rurality factor given to each of the (a) county councils and (b) unitary authorities in England for the latest local authority financial settlements. [150601]
Mr. Raynsford: The formula spending shares (FSS) formulae listed in the following table have sub blocks which contain a sparsity factor.
| Formula | Sub block |
|---|---|
| Environmental Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) | Lower Tier EPCS |
| Education | Primary Education |
| Local Education Authorities | |
| Personal Social Services (PSS) | Older Peoples |
The sparsity top up for each county council and unitary authority for each of the above formulae is listed in the following table:
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The figures are from the 2004–05 Local Government Finance Settlement, laid in Parliament on Thursday, 29 January and are consistent with the simple presentation guide to that settlement, available on the ODPM website.
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