HC Deb 07 November 1979 vol 973 cc205-6W
Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures the Government propose to take to increase local authorities' ability to determine their own spending priorities.

Mr. King

We intend to legislate in the current Session to relax or repeal many controls over local authorities and to introduce revised arrangements for capital expenditure which will give them greater discretion within total programmes. An urgent review of the statutory duties of local authorities is now in progress. Legislation has already been introduced to modify their duties relating to school milk, meals and transport.

Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reaction the local authority representatives gave to the expenditure reductions considered in the expenditure steering groups.

Mr. King

The expenditure groups' reports were considered in the consultative council on local government finance on 9 July. The local authority representatives reiterated their commitment to aiding the Government's economic strategy as far as they were able. They emphasised inter alia the need for early announcement of the expenditure target for 1980–81; my right hon. Friend informed them of the current expenditure planning total on 31 July.

Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he intends to make in the statutory obligations of the local authorities to meet the expenditure policies of the Government.

Mr. King

The Government are carrying out an urgent review of all the statutory duties of local authorities, which they expect to complete next spring. Legislation has already been introduced to give greater flexibility over the duties to provide school meals and milk and to remove the restrictions on charging for school transport; it is also intended to introduce legislation soon providing for charges for planning applications.

Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he anticipates making any changes in the mechanism to control local authority expenditure in the next year.

Mr. King

We shall be seeking powers in forthcoming legislation to control the capital expenditure of local authorities; these controls will come into effect in 1981–82. We have no plans to impose controls on local authority current expenditure, but we shall be seeking powers to change the rate support grant distribution arrangements in order to bring home to high-spending authorities the consequences of their behaviour; my right hon. Friend will be making an announcement shortly.

Mr. Bright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how strictly the local authorities will be expected to comply not only to their total anticipated expenditure in the forthcoming White Paper on public expenditure but to the more detailed figures for the main groups of services.

Mr. King

I expect local authorities to contain their expenditure within the overall planning totals in the White Paper. Capital expenditure is expected to be consistent with the provisions for the individual service programmes. The breakdown of current expenditure between services reflects the Government's view of priorities, but it is for individual authorities to decide the eventual distribution in the light of local needs and conditions.