§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of the community charge on grant aid to local voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Government monitor the main categories of expenditure of local authorities, which this year will be affected by the introduction of the community charge and the level of charges, but the grant aid which local authorities provide to voluntary organisations is a matter for them to decide, not the Government.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the effects on grant aid to local voluntary organisations of local authorities not recovering the level of community charge anticipated when preparing their budget.
§ Mr. ChopeIf authorities collect charges efficiently, there is no reason why the cash volume of arrears should be greater than under the rating system. There is no reason why local authorities, or those voluntary organisations which receive grant aid from local authorities, need be in any way disadvantaged in the way the right hon. Member implies.