§ Mr. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Scotland against which authorities he proposes to take action on the grounds of excessive and unreasonable expenditure.
§ Mr. RifkindI have decided to initiate action in terms of section 5 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 in respect of the city of Edinburgh district council on the ground that its planned expenditure for 1986–87 is excessive and unreasonable. A letter has today been sent to the council proposing a rate reduction of 2.7p and inviting it to make representations about the proposed reduction.