§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of the rate support grant to St. Helens borough council; if he will provide comparable figures for Knowsley, 441W Liverpool and other local authorities in the immediate surrounding area; and what are the reasons for the disparity between the levels of support.
§ Mr. KingThe estimated final allocation of rate support grant per head of population for 1980–81 payable to St. Helens borough council, and comparable figures for the immediate surrounding area including, in the case of the non-metropolitan districts, the needs element per head payable to the respective county councils, are:
£ head St. Helens … … … … 215 Knowsley … … … … 246 Liverpool … … … … 268 Sefton … … … … 205 Wirral … … … … 209 Wigan … … … … 226 Halton … … … … 171 Warrington … … … … 170 West Lancashire … … … … 196 The figures for non-metropolitan districts include the needs element per head payable in respect of the relevant county council. The needs element grant paid to the metropolitan districts already takes account of county needs. Differences in the levels of needs element and resources element payable reflect differences in the assessed expenditure needs and rateable resources of the different areas.