§ 7. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs how many local authorities not paying London allowances under the Burnham scale will secure an increased grant from his Department because of grant increases arising from the allowance his Department makes in the general grant on account of increased London allowances.
§ Mr. BrookeI would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a similar Question asked by him on 20th June.
§ Mr. BoydenWill the Minister make it quite clear to local authorities, who do not seem to agree with him, that the authorities which do not pay London allowances may very well receive increased grant owing to the inflexibility of the general grant arrangements?
§ Mr. BrookeI think that the arrangements are not as inflexible as that. I pointed out in reply to a previous Question what happened about rate deficiency grant, and I added that the authorities liable to pay the London allowances are also those which are entitled to supplementary grants on account of higher costs and so forth. That supplementary grant will be reviewed in consultation with the local authority associations before the distribution formula is adjusted to take account of any increase of aggregate of the grant. The whole matter will be looked at carefully.