§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the correspondence received by his Department from the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and on the replies sent concerning the implications for Portsmouth of the Local Government Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe Lord Mayor wrote to me on 27th December 1973 about the implications for the city of Portsmouth of the proposals for the rate support grants for 1974–75 which my right hon. and learned Friend discussed with the local authority associations in November. These proposals have now been altered following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of 17th December 1973 about public expenditure, and I shall be replying to the Lord Mayor shortly in the light of the revised arrangements.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the purpose and outcome 169W of the recent consultations between his Department and the Portsmouth City Council concerning approval of proposed general improvement areas in the city. with particular reference to the improvement of the environment of council as well as private housing in these areas.
§ Mr. ChannonThere is close liaison at all stages between the Department and Portsmouth City Council over the latter's general improvement areas. A recent meeting cleared the way for the approval of Exchequer grant in respect of work to the environment in an area which contains both council and private housing.