§ 7. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if, following the recommendation of the recent Working Party on Rate Deficiency Grants, he has reduced the number of grant calculations for a year from three to two.
§ Mr. CorfieldNo, Sir. The report of the working party was intended only as a basis for further consideration. The recommendations are now being considered by the local authority associations in the light of the views of their members. My right hon. Friend will consult them and the London County Council as soon as they are ready, and in due course he will lay a report before Parliament.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the hon. Gentleman in favour of this move? Surely one of 212 the ideas of the general grant was to simplify procedure. Here is a practical way of doing so and saving money.
§ Mr. CorfieldI do not think I can anticipate my right hon. Friend's decision until he has had the consultations to which I referred. The Report has been published now in order to give local authorities time to make representations to their associations. We will continue consultations with the latter bodies as soon as those representations are in.