HC Deb 25 February 1976 vol 906 cc351-2
2. Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he has taken in the last three months to provide special assistance to inner areas.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Ernest Armstrong)

The needs of inner city areas have been recognised in the rate support grant settlement and in the allocation of funds for house improvements, for the acquisition of houses by local authorities, and for local authority lending for house purchase.

Mr. Cunningham

Are the Government aware that these welcome steps are being partly undone by the London rate equalisation scheme under which this coming year the average inner London domestic ratepayer will be required to pay no less than £14 per family as a straight subsidy to ratepayers in outer London? Are they aware that many of the inner London boroughs which voted for that scheme did so because the ratepayers were unaware of what they were doing, and because they were "conned" into believing that if they did not accept that proposal the Secretary of State would impose an even more penal surcharge on them?

Mr. Armstrong

The allocation of resources is always difficult. This was a proposal from the London Boroughs Association on which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State deliberated. He finally agreed that the concentration of heavy rateable value in parts of London should be shared more evenly throughout London.

Mr. Lane

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that if the Government diverted to the inner cities a fraction of the public money which is to be wasted under the Community Land Act they would give the attack on urban deprivation the extra momentum it needs?

Mr. Armstrong

The problem of the inner cities is very serious and it is receiving urgent consideration. We are trying to find a way of positively discriminating in favour of the inner cities. It is misleading to suggest for political reasons that there is any easy answer.

Mr. Welsh

How many inner area study reports have been produced? Will the Government consider producing some kind of analysis or commentary on those reports, drawing them together and producing some immediate results?

Mr. Armstrong

There have been inner area studies in Liverpool, Birmingham and Lambeth and we hope to have them by the autumn. They will be published as soon as possible.