§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the cash limits on Somerset County Council's expenditure for 1976–77 required under Circular 45/76 to allow for additional population growth.
§ Mr. John SilkinNo. Circular 45/76 did not impose cash limits on local authority expenditure. It set an overall guideline which recognised that some authorities may have to spend above it and some below it as local needs and circumstances dictated.
§ Mr. Boscawenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what expendture cuts are proposed to be made by Somerset County Council in consequence of his Circular 45/76 for the current year and the years 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe information requested by the hon. Member is best obtained from Somerset County Council. The detail of the economies made by individual authorities in response to Circular 45/76 is a matter for the authorities themselves.