§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is making to enable payment of the first instalments of grant under section 88A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to recompense North Lincolnshire district council for the income forgone as a consequence of the transitional reduction of council taxes under the Local Government Changes for England (Council Tax) (Transitional Reduction) Regulations 1996—S.I. 1996 No. 176 as amended by S.I. 1996 No. 333. [22706]
§ Mr. CurryMy right hon. Friend has already announced that some £2.182 million is to be paid to North Lincolnshire under section 88A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure is being sought in the 1996–97 main supply estimates for the local government and planning, England vote, class VI, vote 4. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure of £0.8 million on the first instalments of grant to the new North Lincolnshire district council will be met by a repayable advance from the contingencies fund.