§ 36. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will present an annual report to Parliament on the same basis and in the same degree of detail as that to be provided to him by local authorities in the terms of circular 3/81: "Publication of Annual Reports and Financial Statements by Local Authorities".
§ Mr. KingPublic expenditure White Papers and other material already laid before Parliament as a matter of course already provide comprehensive information on central Government's plans and expenditure. Circular 3/81 does not refer to reports addressed to the Secretary of State. These relate to information that local authorities should provide to their ratepayers.
§ 37. Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has had from local authorities about his requirement for a 5 per cent. rate of return on capital from their direct labour organisations.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI received representations from the local authority associations before the rate of return directions were made, and I have since received representations from two individual authorities.