INDEX OF LOCAL DEPRIVATION

Early day motion 529, tabled 14 March 2000 by Iain Coleman (Labour). Signed by 53 members.

That this House believes that if the Index of Local Deprivation is to be used as the key determinant of the allocation of billions of pounds of public money it is essential that it can be demonstrated to be a robust, accurate and transparent method of calculation of the levels of deprivation which exist in local authorities in England; further believe that in order for those organisations serving the best interests of local authorities, such as the Association of London Government and the Special Interest Group of Metropolitan Authorities, to commission studies by peer academics of those at Oxford University responsible for the current proposals it is essential that all the underlying data used to prepare the proposals is released by the Government; and therefore calls upon the Government to release immediately all the information used to compile the new index so such studies can be commissioned now to test the robustness and accuracy of the new proposals.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Labour/Co-operative 4, Liberal Democrat 3, Plaid Cymru 2.