HC Deb 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc365-6W
Mr. Maxton

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what he anticipates will be the proportion of local authority income derived from(a) the poll tax/local tax, (b) non-domestic rates and (c) Government grants in Scotland in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

Mr. Allan Stewart

For 1991–92, the expected proportions are:

Per cent.
Community charge 115
Non-domestic rates 24
Government grants 261

Department of Energy R, D and D Expenditure on Renewable Energy (£ million)1 (1990 prices)
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
Wind 1.3 1.4 1.5 3.8 3.7 6.6 7.1 4.8 4.9 4.4 5.1
Wave 6.3 5.9 7.3 4.8 1.5 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1
Geothermal Aquifers 2.7 3.0 4.3 2.3 2.6 1.5 0.4 0.1 — 0.1 0.2
Geothermal hot dry rocks — 1.1 9.2 4.6 4.2 6.4 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.0 3.5
Solar 2.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.6 2.0

1 Gross figure—that is, before Community Charge Benefit and Community Charge Reduction Scheme assistance.

2 Grants concerned are—Revenue Support Grant, specific grants and Community Charge Grant.

At this stage it is not possible to provide figures for future years.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consultations took place with Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on the distribution of the accelerated revenue support grant payments given to local authorities as compensation for loss of community charge revenue;

(2) if he will list those local authorities which have received less compensatory income from the accelerated revenue support grants made than that lost in revenue from community charge income.

Mr. Allan Stewart

[holding answer 14 May 1991]: Provided that its assumptions about community charge collection prove correct, no local authority should lose income for 1991–92 as a result of the reduction in charges made by the Community Charges (General Reduction) Act 1991. The combined income from revenue support grant, community charge grant and revised community charges should be equal to the total amount which each authority budgeted for originally in revenue support grant and community charge income.

My right hon. Friend announced on 18 April that, through a combination of revenue support grant and community charge grant, Scottish local authorities would receive by the end of June a total of £281 million more grant than they would have done under the normal arrangements for the payment of revenue support grant. This was broadly in line with the amount requested originally by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

In accordance with the past practice, each Scottish authority is being paid the same percentage amount of revenue support grant each week. Prior to its introduction this year, this arrangement was neither the subject of consultation with nor representation from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. But following recent representations from the convention and a small number of authorities, my right hon. Friend is considering the matter further.