§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make arrangements for the next census to collect data on the incidence of handicap in different local authorities, in order that the distribution of the rate support grant can take account of a factor which is a major determinant of the level of local authority expenditure.
Mr. John SilkiaThe census is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. I shall certainly bear the requirements of the rate support grant distribution very much in mind in any discussions I may have with my right hon. Friend about the design of the next census.