§ Mr. CouchmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his statement of 3 April on charge capping, what were his decisions in relation to capping Lambeth borough council for 1990–91.
§ Mr. Chris PattenOn the basis of the principles that I adopted for inner-London boroughs, Lambeth's revised budget of £293.9 million is, in my opinion, excessive. On 10 April, I therefore designated the authority for charge capping in accordance with those principles, and proposed a cap of £285.1 million, a reduction of £8.8 million or £51 per adult. I am satisfied that, on the basis of the information available to me, the proposed cap is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of Lambeth. The authority has 28 days, beginning on 10 April 1990, in which to let me know whether it accepts the proposed cap or, if not, what alternative cap it is proposing together with the reasons for it.