HC Deb 16 April 1975 vol 890 cc436-7
20. Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of times the Layfield Committee has met.

Mr. Crosland

I am glad of this opportunity of thanking the members of the committee for the time they are devoting to this inquiry. The full committee has been meeting fortnightly since it began its work. Up to the present it has met 17 times. In addition, it has a large programme of oral evidence sessions, visits, subcommittee work and ad hoc meetings totalling some 35 full days in the first quarter of this year.

Mr. Bowden

I am grateful for that reply. Will the Secretary of State urge the committee to complete its work as quickly as possible, because I am sure he is aware of the widespread concern about the rating system? There is great anger at the number of people who draw considerable benefits from services derived from rates but who subscribe nothing towards the cost of those services.

Mr. Crosland

I am well aware of the widespread dissatisfaction with the rating system, as, presumably, were Conservative Ministers, who for three and a half years paid not the slightest attention to this problem. I have put every pressure on the committee and I still hope that it will adhere to the timetable I set—namely to report by the end of the year.

Mr. Tomlinson

Does my right hon. Friend agree that on this occasion it is more important that the committee should carry out a thorough investigation than that it should have to operate to a timetable? We want to see a detailed study so that once and for all we can get this vexed question out of the way.

Mr. Crosland

I strongly agree with my hon. Friend. We have had years and years of discussions about the rating system, local income tax and whether there are any other sources of local government finance which we can tap. I agree that in reaching any consensus or conclusion is now necessary to do the job thoroughly.