§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has so far taken pursuant to his undertaking of 25th March 1974 to review the question of the rating system.
§ Mr. CroslandI am considering the form of an independent inquiry into local government finance. Meanwhile a review of the distribution of the rate support grant is proceeding, and will be completed in time for the 1975–76 grant settlement. Discussions with the local authority associations have begun at both ministerial and official level, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the352W Member for Widnes (Mr. Oakes), is visiting a number of areas, including the hon. Member's constituency, to examine the problems of individual authorities.