The needs element for any year shall be subject to adjustment, in accordance with regulations made under this paragraph, in respect of expenditure to which this paragraph applies.

The Secretary of State may after consultation with such associations of local authorities as appear to him to be concerned by regulations subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, provide for ascertaining the aggregate of such expenditure for the year in question of all local authorities, for apportioning the aggregate among such classes of local authority as may be specified in the regulations, and for giving effect to the apportionment by means of increases or decreases in the needs element payable to such authorities as may be so specified of such amounts as may be ascertained in accordance with the regulations.

This paragraph applies to such expenditure incurred as may be specified in regulations made under this paragraph.