HL Deb 18 April 1985 vol 462 cc798-9

3.9 p.m.

Lord Ellenborough

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which four shire county councils in England raised their rate precepts by the greatest percentage between 1981–82 and 1985–86; which four had the smallest increase; and what in each case was the percentage change.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Elton)

My Lords, the four shire county councils in England which raised their poundages by the greatest percentage between 1981–82 and 1985–86 were: Nottinghamshire, 71 per cent.; Derbyshire, 67 per cent.; Humberside, 60 per cent.; and Avon, 50 per cent.

The four with the smallest increases were: Lincolnshire, 25 per cent.; Dorset, 25 per cent.; Suffolk, 26 per cent.; and Buckinghamshire, 26 per cent.

Lord Ellenborough

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that illuminating Answer. Does it not show that the counties which suffered the highest rises appear to be Labour-controlled and those with the smallest rises are under Conservative control? Does this not show that the high-spending and extravagance of Labour councils is by no means confined to the big cities? Surely this has implications as to which way ratepayers should vote in the forthcoming shire elections?

Lord Elton

My Lords, while not wishing to make any reference to the non-shire counties, which are outside the terms of the Question, I would agree with my noble friend that, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State said yesterday, since the local government elections in May 1981 precepts in Labour-controlled shire counties have, on average, increased at twice the rate of precepts in Conservative-controlled shire counties.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, is not the important point the nature of the area and the work that needs to be done? Has a judgment been made in these areas on the amount of deprivation, the poverty, the rebuilding and the old infrastructure? Are not those the matters which should be considered by the Government?

Lord Elton

My Lords, grant-related expenditure assessments are based on measures of need.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, can the Minister say whether any of the differential rates levied have been due to the fact that the Government have changed the formula and criteria and ploughed money into Conservative areas at the expense of Labour ones?

Lord Elton

My Lords, there is nothing partial in the adjustments that we have made.