§ Mr. Terry FieldsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make provision to reimburse Liverpool city council for special expenditure arising out of the events at Hillsborough on 15 April; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerNormally, local authorities make some provision in their own budgets for extraordinary and unforeseeable costs.
Liverpool city council's officers have raised orally with the Department's regional office officials the possibility of the council's seeking special assistance. If the council was to seek such assistance, we should of course consider its request carefully.