To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average rate of grant per head received by each local authority for the care of elderly persons. [15029]

Revenue Support Grant is an unhypothecated grant which is distributed to local authorities on the basis of Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs). An SSA is the Government's assessment of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure which would allow an authority to provide a standard level of service, consistent with the Government's view of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure for all local authorities. SSAs are not binding on authorities, which are free to decide how much to spend on any service. All personal social services SSAs, including figures on a per capita basis, are listed in the "Local Government Finance Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1997–98", copies of which are available in the Library.