§ Mr. Richardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make copies of the Report of the Allen Committee available to Members; and whether, following the publication of the Report, he will take steps to ease the burden of rates on householders of limited means.
§ Mr. CrossmanCopies of the Report (Cmnd. 2582) are available in the Vote Office.
The Report provides for the first time comprehensive information about the impact of rates on householders and will 151W be of the greatest value to the Government in their review of local government finance and the rating system. This is being pushed ahead as fast as possible and attention is of course being given to the burden of rates on those of limited means. But until the review has been completed it will not be possible to decide how that burden can be eased.
The Secretary of State for Scotland and I would like to take the opportunity of thanking Professor Allen and his colleagues for giving so generously of their time.