§ Mr. Michael Cocksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations from the new county of Avon have been received by his Department relating to Avon's estimated expenditure on interest incurred in borrowing to finance initial expenses, spending on accommodation and equipment, staff recruitment costs and problem of transfer of property funds from former authorities: and what replies have been sent.
§ Mr. Graham PageThrough the County Councils Association the new Avon County Council has represented that it will experience special difficulties under these heads because it will not inherit an existing administrative infrastructure and will not be a legatee authority for general purposes property. My Department has replied that any additional grant for Avon would have to be agreed by the local authority associations within the grant total negotiated with them. It would be difficult to distinguish between any increased costs facing Avon and those which other authorities may initially face following reorganisation. As for capital, the allocation for locally determined capital schemes had already been agreed with the associations ; if exceptions in favour of Avon were made they would entail exceptions for many other authorities.