§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what grounds he has granted dispensation to Wirral councillors to vote on imposing a rate on empty property; and if he will detail the names and the party affiliation of those councillors requesting such dispensation.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has granted dispensations under section 97(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to councillors D. A. Fletcher, T. Higgins, G. C. Lindsay and C. Whatling, three of whom I am informed are members of the Conservative group and one of the Liberal group on the metropolitan borough of Wirral.
These dispensations were granted in accordance with my criteria set out in the Department's circular 105/73.