HC Deb 23 June 1976 vol 913 cc1588-9
14. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has discussed the Layfield Report with the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance; and, if so, what broad conclusions were reached.

Mr. Shore

Not yet. The council will be having a discussion on the report at its next meeting in early July.

Mr. Arnold

I recognise that the Secretary of State believes that a full and considered response to Layfield depends on the many submissions that he has asked people to make to him. However, will he say whether the Government are now in a position to give their views on certain matters within Layfield ahead of the consultation period, because it is essential that these matters should move ahead with all possible speed?

Mr. Shore

No, we are not ready to do that. There are certain matters in Layfield of a very specific nature on which more progress could be made in advance of coming to a conclusion on the big central question that Layfield poses.

Mr. Evelyn King

Does the right hon. Gentleman share the view expressed by the Home Secretary to the effect that in any democratic system expenditure by Government agencies should not exceed 60 per cent. of public expenditure? If he does, does he not also agree that this implies a permanent limitation on local authority expenditure? Will he bear that in mind in any discussions he has on local government finance?

Mr. Shore

I do not subscribe to the doctrine of a particular percentage of public expenditure posing a threat to democracy.

Mr. King

But that is what the Home Secretary says.

Mr. Shore

That may be my right hon. Friend's view, and he is entitled to express it. I am equally entitled to express a different view. The Government view is that we should stick within the targets that we have agreed in the latest public expenditure White Paper.