§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will
428WThese figures do not take into account the rate rebates granted by rating authorities.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the rates payable by industry, commerce, public undertakings and householders respectively, in the current financial year; and what were the comparable totals in each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe figures are as follows:
publish a table showing, as far as is pos sible, changes in the distribution of rate support grant throughout England and Wales which have resulted from the new formula introduced for the current year as compared with 1973–74.
§ Mr. John SilkinDirect comparison of grants for 1973–74 and 1974–75 is possible only for new counties with boundaries identical to those of former counties, or new counties consisting of combinations of complete former counties or of former counties and county boroughs. The grants shown for such counties for 1973–74 are the totals of rate support grant paid to all the former authorities whose areas are included in the new county, under the Rate Support Grant (Increase) (No. 2) Order 1973. The amounts shown for 1974–75 are the latest estimates of total grant to be paid to the 429W county and district councils in each county. The sample is not representative of the changes in rate support grant this year.
When making comparisons allowance must be made for the fact that it is not yet possible to express 1974–75 grants at the same price base—November 1973—as those for 1973–74, that responsibility for some services has been transferred from local authorities, and that mandatory student awards are now eligible for 90 per cent. specific grants.
RATE SUPPORT GRANT 1973–74 (Second estimate) 1974–75 (Latest estimate) County £m. £m. Bedfordshire 26.9 25.5 Cambridgeshire 31.7 32.1 Cornwall 27.5 25.1 Devon 57.3 56.3 Essex 77.5 77.3 Hertfordshire 57.8 53.0 Isle of Wight 6.6 6.8 Kent 86.7 93.3 Leicestershire 51.2 50.7 Northamptonshire 30.4 29.5 Salop 25.0 24.2 Wiltshire 35.0 35.5 Dyfed 29.3 31.2 Isles of Scilly 0.2 0.2 London 388.0 421.4