§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy in future to announce the final rate support grant settlement for England earlier in the financial year than December; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that there will be three full months between his announcement of the final rate support grant settlement for England for 1987–88, and the date by which councils have to set a rate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Chope[pursuant to his reply, 12 December 1986, c. 283]: It is my policy to announce the rate support grant settlement for a year as soon as possible to do so, in the light of all the circumstances.