Local Government Finance (Hansard, 6 November 1991)

§ 20. Mr. Wareing
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any assessment of the amendments in local services that will be needed if his total standard spending target is to be achieved; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Portillo
The £41.8 billion which we have proposed for total standard spending in 1992–93 is sufficient to cover the full range of local authority services.

§ 30. Mr. Tom Clarke
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to confirm his proposed 1992–93 financial settlement for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
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§ 36. Mr. Patchett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to confirm his proposed 1992–93 financial settlement for local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Key
Shortly.

§ 28. Mr. Sumberg
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to strengthen the ability of his Department to restrict the spending of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Portillo
The Local Government Finance and Valuation Act enacted earlier this year removes the exemption capping for those authorities setting budgets below £15 million. In future we shall be able to protect all chargepayers from high bills caused by their authorities' excessive spending, and we shall not hesitate to do so should it prove necessary.