§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for all Government Bills to contain details in the Explanatory Memorandum of likely increases in local rates as a result of new duties to be placed upon local authorities by Parliament, calculated on the basis of a range of penny rate products throughout the country.
§ The Prime MinisterI share the hon. Member's concern that the House should be fully informed of the financial implications for local authorities of Government Bills. The Explanatory Memoranda on Government Bills now separately distinguish the financial manpower implications for local authorities. I do not think it would be helpful to attempt to estimate the effects of individual Bills on the rate poundages determined by local authorities.