To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will detail the reasons for, and the contents of, the reduction of total standard spending from the service working groups' calculation of £44 billion to £41.8 billion for 1992–93.

The level of total standard spending reflects a range of factors including pressures on local government spending, the scope for savings, the level of central and local taxation and what the country as a whole can afford. It represents the Government's overall judgment and as such is not comparable in detail with the recommendations of the service working groups.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment for social services in Lancashire in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, and what is the national average in each of those years.

The information requested is shown in the table.