Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what allowance is to be made in the rate support grant to local authorities to take account of the changes in the contribution structure of the teachers' superannuation scheme; and at what stage in the rate support grant negotiations the local authority representatives were notified of these changes.
§ Mr. RaisonAs my right hon. Friend said in her statement on 28th November—[Vol. 865 ; c. 427–8]—the Government will be ready to consult the local authorities about the proposal to change the contribution structure. Negotiations for the rate support grant for 1974–75 were completed on 27th November. They could thus take no account of any possible future charge in teachers' superannuation arrangements. The expenditure consequences of any such charges would normally be taken into account for the purposes of any Rate Support Grant (Increase) Order.