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31 Mar 2004 : Column 1506W—continued
Local Government Finance
Mr. Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new spending obligations his Department has passed to local government in Somerset since 1997; to what extent these new responsibilities have been supported by an increase in central government grant; and if he will make a statement. [164672]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government are committed to fully funding any new responsibilities it places on local government through the New Burdens principle. The Government do not hold information on the extent of new responsibilities in Somerset since 1997. However Somerset has benefited from the 30 per cent. real term increase in overall Government grant for local authorities since 1997, which has enabled local authorities to comply with new responsibilities while continuing to improve services. This grant increase provides funding for the cost
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pressures and new burdens on local government including those identified with the Local Government Association in the context of the relevant Spending Review.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of external debt was in each local authority in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall in each of the last seven years; and what the cost of servicing the debt was in each year. [164793]
Mr. Raynsford: The level of external debt in each local authority in Devon and Cornwall in each of the last seven years is in the following table. Figures for 1998 and 1999 are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Source:
ODPM monthly and quarterly borrowing returns.
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It should be noted that authorities with high levels of debt are generally those which have undertaken capital investment and that long-term borrowing to finance capital expenditure is currently regulated through the issue of credit approvals and, from 1 April 2004, will be subject to the Prudential System.
Figures for external interest payments in each local authority in Devon and Cornwall in each of the last seven years are shown in the following table.
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04(15) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon | 22.0 | 15.5 | 14.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 17.3 |
| East Devon | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Exeter | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mid Devon | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| North Devon | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| South Hams | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Teignbridge | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Torridge | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| West Devon | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Caradon | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Carrick | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Cornwall | 10.3 | 10.5 | 10.8 | 11.3 | 11.6 | 12.0 | 12.9 |
| Kerrier | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| North Cornwall | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Penwith | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Restormel | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
(15) Budgeted figures.
Sources:
1997–98 to 2002–03 ODPM Revenue Summary Returns.
2003–04 ODPM Budget Estimate Returns.
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the contract for the "Your Say" campaign was put out for tender; how many tenders were received; what the selection criteria were for awarding the contract; when the contract was awarded; and when the contract will terminate. [164804]
Mr. Raynsford: The contract for the Elected Regional Assemblies information campaign was put out to tender on 22 August 2003. Three tenders were received. The selection criteria were best value for money, an understanding of the brief, and the quality of the proposals and the strength of the team from the agency. The contract was awarded in mid September 2003 and will be terminated six to eight weeks before the referendums are held.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what means, and at what cost, (a) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North East, (b) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North West, (c) Your Say: A New Opportunity for Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) Your Say: Business and Jobs, (e) Your Say: Assembly Powers and Responsibilities and (f) Your Say: Housing, Planning and Transport are being distributed. [164805]
Mr. Raynsford: These leaflets, part of the "Your Say" campaign, are designed to inform people in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, about the Government's plans to give them an opportunity to vote on whether or not they want to have Elected Regional Assemblies.
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They are being distributed by Government Offices in the regions at various public events and are available upon request. They are also on the "Your Say" websites. To date, the only costs incurred in distribution have been to cover delivery to events and postage.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many copies of (a) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North East, (b) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North West, (c) Your Say: A New Opportunity for Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) Your Say: Business and Jobs, (e) Your Say: Assembly Powers and Responsibilities and (f) Your Say: Housing, Planning and Transport he intends to distribute; and when he intends to terminate their distribution. [164806]
Mr. Raynsford: These leaflets and fact sheets, part of the "Your Say" campaign, are designed to inform people in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, about the Government's plans to give them an opportunity to vote on whether or not they want to have Elected Regional Assemblies.
They are being distributed by the Government Offices in the regions at various public events and to individuals or groups upon request. They may also be downloaded from the "Your Say" websites:
- www.yoursay-northeast.odpm.gov.uk,
- www.yoursaynorthwest.odpm.gov.uk, and
- www.yoursay-yorksandhumber.odpm.gov.uk.
Distribution will be in accordance with Section 125(3) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
The number of leaflets and fact sheets to be distributed is not fixed. It will be based on demand and the need to ensure that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister discharge the responsibility to inform the public. All the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister communication activity is in line with the Civil Service Code.
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to whom (a) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North East, (b) Your Say: A New Opportunity for the North West, (c) Your Say: A New Opportunity for Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) Your Say: Business and Jobs, (e) Your Say: Assembly Powers and Responsibilities and (f) Your Say: Housing, Planning and Transport are being distributed. [164807]
Mr. Raynsford: These leaflets, part of the "Your Say" campaign, are designed to inform people in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions, about the Government's plans to give them an opportunity to vote on whether or not they want to have Elected Regional Assemblies.
The leaflets are being distributed by the Government Offices at events and hearings and are available on request. The leaflets and fact-sheets are available on the "Your Say" websites:
- www.yoursay-northwest.odpm.go.uk
- www.yoursay-northeast.odpm.gov.uk
- www.yoursay-yorksandhumber.odpm.gov.uk
Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the proposed regional assemblies in (a) the North West, (b) the North East and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber will have borrowing powers. [163715]
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Mr. Raynsford: The borrowing powers of elected regional assemblies were set out in Chapter 5 of the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions", published in May 2002 (Cm 5511).
In summary, the White Paper states that regional assemblies' capital expenditure will generally be funded by central Government grant. But there may be circumstances in which an assembly wishes to borrow to raise money for capital expenditure in addition to that provided by central Government. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister propose to give regional assemblies borrowing powers subject to set limits to fund capital expenditure where they can afford to finance it from their revenue budgets. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also propose to give them temporary borrowing powers for cash management purposes.
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