§ 24. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to amend the General Rate Act 1967 to permit exemption of constant attendance allowance payments from calculation of gross income for the assessment of eligibility for rate rebates.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI must ask the hon. Member to await legislation to reform local government finance.
§ Mr. WhiteheadWhile the House awaits that legislation local authorities are hiding behind the lack of exemptions in the General Rate Act 1967 to charge people who receive constant attendance allowance a sum if their gross income has gone up, which takes away with one hand that which this House has given with the other in the form of the constant attendance allowance. Is not that an absurd situation?
§ Mr. GriffithsMy right hon. and learned Friend is in close touch with local authorities about this matter, and we are sympathetic to the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. However I think that he must await the legislation on local government finance which has been promised for this Session.