§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowance has been made for temporary additional administrative costs imposed on local authorities by local government reorganisation, in the expenditure forecasts on which the grant total for 1974–75 is based: and how the allowance has been allocated to each new county.
§ Mr. Graham Page£15 million was included in the relevant expenditure forecasts for 1974–75 to take account of the cost of establishing the new authorities and of paying the new members' attendance allowances. The forecasts are prepared on a national basis, not authority by authority.
§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his estimates for the temporary additional administrative costs involved in setting up each of the new county councils, respectively; and how these estimates compare with estimates submitted by the county councils themselves.
§ Mr. Graham PageMy right hon. and learned Friend has made no such estimates.