§ Mr. Hayasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, if he will make a statement about the London Rate Equalisation Scheme under Section 10 of the Local Government Act, 1948.
§ Mr. H. BrookeAt my request the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee have reviewed the operation of the existing Scheme; and they recommend its replacement by a new one. The main feature of their new proposal is the pooling of 70 per cent. of the expenditure of the Metropolitan Borough Councils and the City Corporation, subject to a control in respect of increases in expenditure, to transitional arrangements for four years, and to special treatment for the City's planning expenditure. I have these proposals under consideration, in consultation with the local authorities.