§ 10. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with those local authorities designated under the Rates Act 1984.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerNone of the selected authorities applied for a redetermination of its expenditure level. In setting proposed rate and precept limits my right hon. Friend took account of a number of representations. I await comments on those proposed limits before 15 January.
§ Mr. CartwrightIs the Secretary of State prepared to delay the laying of orders under the Rates Act for as long as possible in order to encourage the rate-capped authorities to argue their case with him? If they do not seek changes in the limits, is the Secretary of State committed to making orders that confirm the rate maximum that was laid down in his statement of 11 December?
§ Mr. BakerGreenwich and the other rate-capped authorities have had since July of last year to come and discuss with my right hon. Friend and myself in the Department the actual expenditure levels. They declined to do so. Since 11 December they have had opportunities to come and discuss the rate limits. I have encouraged them to do so. I believe that the limit we have set for Greenwich is appropriate. We have used the figures that were available to us. I think that many of the ratepayers of Greenwich will welcome the rate limit, which is a reduction this year of about 19 per cent. The actual rate increases which the hon. Gentleman's constituents have had over the last three years have been 11 per cent., 59 per cent. and 20 per cent.