§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will agree to allow all sea defence schemes and sewerage schemes costing less than £100,000 to be financed from the large projects reserve pools so as not to be a charge to ratepayers.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThis Question appears to be based on a misconception. The large projects pool is a sum held in reserve from the total amount of capital expenditure on locally determined schemes by local authorities as a whole. An allocation from the pool to a particular authority increases the amount which that authority can spend on such schemes and this in turn must lead to an increase in the charge to ratepayers. The existing arrangements under which central Government grants may be made to cover part of expenditure on coast protection works and on certain rural sewerage schemes continue to apply to any expenditure incurred by the authority on them within its allocation for locally determined schemes as a whole.