To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the local authorities' (a) capital grants for 2006-07 and (b) indicated grants for 2007-08. (46138)

I have been asked to reply.

Information on capital grants issued to local authorities is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much rates support grant was given to Lancashire county council over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (53372)

I have been asked to reply.

The following table shows the amount of formula grant provided to Lancashire county council for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08, together with the increase year-on-year on a like-for-like basis after adjusting for changes in funding and function. Formula grant comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and, for authorities with responsibility for policing, principal formula police grant. It is not appropriate to show just revenue support grant as the amount for England is dependant on the amount of redistributed business rates available for England in the year.

The large change in the level of formula grant in 2006-07 is due to the transfer of schools funding to the Dedicated Schools Grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities make provision for their councillors to hold a budget which they can spend on approved projects and organisations in their own wards. (76274)

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of which local authorities the Government are proposing to reduce their support for borrowing for capital expenditure; and if she will make a statement. (76617)

Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's policy is on supported borrowing for capital expenditure by Buckinghamshire county council; and if she will make a statement. (76618)

Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued to Buckinghamshire county council, as with all local authorities, is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.