§ Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Ministers have Government houses made available to them; whether the rates on these properties are paid by the Ex for the Environment what has been the chequer; and, if so, whether he will annual cost of financial support from the arrange for the Ministers concerned to be charged personally for these rates.
§ Mr. FreesonFive Ministers currently have an official residence available to them for which the Exchequer pays the contribution in lieu of rates. It is not my intention to ask occupants to pay towards the upkeep of the residences because they are an integral part of the
1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 £ million 1974 (estimated)* (i) Capital Grants: Transport Act 1968 (Section 56) 0.3 0.4 0.7 9.2 14.3 17.0 (ii) Operating Grants: Transport Act 1968— (Section 20) — — — — 13.8 8.3 (Section 39) 50.6 65.6 61.1 68.1 59.4 95.4 (Section 40) 11.3 14.8 8.5 — 10.3 1.2 (Section 57) 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.8 Transport (Grants) Act 1972 — — — 27.0 — — (iii) Special Grants: Cashflow Shortfall Grant — — — 32.0 72.0 172.1 Totals 62.4 81.5 71.9 138.0 171.4 295.8 *Includes supplementary provision shortly to be laid before Parliament.