§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make it mandatory for local authorities to reimburse ratepayers the appropriate portion of the rates related to refuse collections for those periods during which refuse is not collected when caused by industrial action for prolonged periods.
§ Mr. John Silkin:No. Rates are levied to meet the estimated cost of all local government services after allowing for government grants and other income. Local authorities will take into account any shortfall or excess in actual total expenditure as compared with the estimates in determining their levies for next year.