To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has provided to local authorities (a) under the formula grant system and (b) through specific grants to fund new burdens arising from new equality and diversity duties in each year since 2005-06. (317809)

The formula grant settlement in all these years took account of the spending pressures on all authorities’ responsibilities, including equality and diversity duties, as well as the scope for efficiencies. No specific grants have been allocated relating to these issues.