§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what independent research has been commissioned by him into grant-related expenditure allocations; who is carrying out the work; how much it will cost; and when the results will be published.
§ Mr. HeseltineA research project was commissioned by my Department earlier this year from the school of advanced urban studies of the University of Bristol. It was asked to undertake an independent review of the present system of GRE assessment and to examine the scope for improvements. The cost will be met from the overall provision of £200,000 for local government research and surveys within the general administration and research Vote (Class VIII 5, G4 iv). The project is expected to be completed by July 1983. The researchers report to a steering group which includes local authority representatives. No decision has yet been taken on publication of the results, which I hope can be made available in an appropriate form to representatives of local government in preparation for the 1984–85 RSG settlement.