Local Government Finance

I am aware of my hon. Friend's point. It was put to me by a number of local authorities that I dealt with during the consultation, and also by the Local Government Association. The money in the settlement is intended to cover the full cost of family law settlements as a result of a change in approach by the Ministry of Justice. What we had not done, but will do—I shall confirm this—is reflect that situation in the baseline figures that we use to calculate the floor. I think that that may help my hon. Friend and his authority of Sandwell.