§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in drawing up the formula for the rate support grant 1975–76, he has followed the guidelines laid down by the joint departmental circular of 23rd December 1974—paragraph 24—concerning restrictions on the subsidy of public transport.
§ Mr. OakesThe Rate Support Grant (No. 2) Order 1974, approved by the House on 12th December, prescribed the aggregate amounts of the rate support grants and the transport supplementary grants for 1975–76, and the bases for distributing them. Paragraph 24 of the circular to which the hon. Member refers merely enlarges on paragraphs 32 and 16 of the Report (HC 74) laid before the House at the same time as that order. Those paragraphs respectively explained the levels of local authority support of public transport which were taken into account in the making of the order, and the implications for that service.
§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the administration of the transport supplementary grant; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MulleyI have already arranged to discuss the scope for improvements within the existing legislation with the local authority associations.
§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities on his decisions on the level of local transport expenditure accepted for each county for 1975–76.
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§ Mr. MulleyOne, from the Greater Manchester Council that its allocation of transport supplementary grant is insufficient to enable a start to be made on the Piccadilly-Victoria tunnel.