§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider adding an unemployment element 175W when computing rate support grant formulas for local authorities.
§ Mr. John SilkinThis has been considered, but technical difficulties at present preclude the use of unemployment statistics. In any case other factors in the needs element formula do reflect social needs effectively. My right hon. Friend will shortly be laying a report before the House on the Rate Support Grant Order for 1975–76.