§ 17. Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions are taking place, or are planned to take place, between his Department and the Association of County Councils regarding revisions to the area cost adjustment; and if he will make a statement. [20953]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Association of County Councils is discussing possible revisions to the area cost adjustment with the team set up to review the area cost adjustment. Once the review has reported, my officials will discuss the review's recommendations with all the local authority associations.
§ Mr. NicholsonMay I support most forcefully the point made a few moments ago by my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey)— [Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The House must come to order.
§ Mr. NicholsonIn supporting my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth, may I point out to my hon. Friend the Minister that there are rather more Conservative Members representing areas that do not get the area cost adjustment than there are Conservative Members representing those that do? Does he recognise that the pay and other conditions that may have operated in 1990 at the height of the boom no longer operate in 1996? Therefore, will he urgently pursue his discussions with the ACC, which itself represents both areas receiving and those not receiving the area cost adjustment?
§ Sir Paul BeresfordAs I have said before, the winners cheer and the losers scream. It will be interesting to see the reaction to the review when it reports. There will be an opportunity for all local authorities to make submissions during the consultation process.