HC Deb 20 February 1961 vol 635 cc21-2W
Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs why there has been such a long delay in revising the figures for the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, applicable to the years 1959–60 and 1960–61; and what protests he has received from those local authorities whose finances will be adversely affected by this revision.

Mr. Brooke

There has been no delay. The figures upon which the second provisional calculation was based were not available until late last year. The protests related particularly to the effect on the rates in 1961–62 of the original proposal to make three years' adjustments in that year.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what will be the financial cost to the County Borough of East Ham arising from his revision of the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, for the years 1959–60, 1960–61, and 1961–62.

Mr. Brooke

On the first provisional calculation, the council's transitional receipts were £53,946 for 1959–60 and £48,551 for 1960–61. On the second provisional calculation, based on more up-to-date information, its revised receipts are £14,315 for 1959–60 and £12,884 for 1960–61. Its receipt for 1961–62 will be £11,452.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Minister of Housing, and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will take steps to meet from public funds the losses incurred by a number of local authorities as a result of his revision of the transitional receipts under the Local Government Act, 1958, in respect of the years 1959–60 and 1960–61.

Mr. Brooke

No. The contributions and receipts of local authorities must be based on the best information available. There is no justification, nor indeed statutory provision, for Exchequer assistance to those authorities which have hitherto received too much.