§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total sums provided and the proportion of the total rate support grant allocated to the Greater London area in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe total amounts of rate support grant paid to London boroughs, and the proportions which they represent of the total amounts paid to all local authorities in England and Wales in respect of each of the years 1974–75 to 1976–77 are as follows:
£ million Percentage of total RSG 1974–75 613.0 14.0 1975–76 763.8 13.2 1976–77 909.3 14.4 The latest estimate for 1977–78 is £947.4 million (14.7 per cent.).
§ Mr. St. John-Stevasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowance he made in settling the rate support grant for Essex for the expanding population in the county including areas such as Chelmsford; and what were the population figures used for the present and the next financial years.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe needs element of the rate support grant for Essex is calculated by reference to the population of the whole county and not specified parts of it. The changes in Chelmsford District Council's population and rateable values will however be reflected in its resources element. Mid-1976 population is used for both the 1977–78 and 1978–79 rate support grant distribution. The estimated population of Essex in mid-1976 was 1,427,800.