Local Government Finance

Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date Sir Michael Lyons is contractually obliged to deliver his report on local government finance to the Government.

Mr. Woolas
Sir Michael Lyons published the final report of his independent inquiry into local government on 21 March 2007.

Mr. Rogerson
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2007, Official Report, column 931W, on local government finance, what the total was of each component of the formula grant to each local authority in each year since 1997.

Mr. Woolas
Tables showing the components of formula grant, together with formula grant, for all authorities for each year from 1998-99 to 2007-08 have been placed in the Library of the House. Formula grant comprises Revenue Support Grant, redistributed business rates, principal formula Police Grant, SSA Reduction Grant (SSA Review), SSA Reduction Grant (Police Funding Review) and Central Support Protection Grant where appropriate.

It is not possible to compare the data year-on-year as these are not on a like-for-like basis as there have been many changes in funding and function. For example, prior to 2006-07 support for schools was provided through formula grant; from 2006-07 support for schools is provided through the Dedicated Schools Grant.