Editorial: It is vital to compare service spending

But changes in the way youth services are configured mean this 2004-05 analysis could be the last time it is published in its current form.

The NYA's data outlines how much money services have to spend on frontline provision. It differs from the Government's Section 52 return, which includes what are known as "town hall costs" for things like administration, recruitment and so on.

Local authorities are not obliged to provide information to the agency for the audit, but in practice almost all have in previous years. But this year nine authorities have been unwilling - or unable - to submit data. No response was received from Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Harrow, Lambeth, Liverpool, Northumberland or Warrington. Northamptonshire and Slough replied but were unable to provide a return because of service restructuring and staff shortages. Even the authorities that did respond left considerable gaps in the information they submitted, often because they simply don't have a breakdown of the data required. The audit is receiving less information, and this will continue next year as youth services become ever more subsumed into the overall children's services structure.