HC Deb 11 January 1978 vol 941 cc756-8W
9. Mr. Madel

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further discussions he has had with the Association of County Councils on the level of the rate support grant for 1978–79.

30. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further discussions he has had with the Association of County Councils on the level of the rate support grant for 1978–79.

Mr. Shore

I have had no further discussions with the Association of County Councils on the 1978–79 RSG settlement since I announced it to it on 18th November; but I have written to its chairman about its misunderstanding of the basis of the safety net provision in the settlement.

23. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the safety net introduced in the 1978–79 rate support grant will operate effectively.

36. Sir George Young

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the safety net introduced in the 1978–79 rate support grant will operate effectively.

Mr. Shore

Yes.

35. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inaugurate a departmental review of the operation of the rate support grant, with particular attention to the calculation of need, so that a more equitable settlement can be made in 1979–80.

Mr. Shore

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Members for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller), Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) and Devon, West (Mr. Mills).

44. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a document for public discussion on the criteria for determining the needs element of the rate support grant for 1979–80 in advance of the application of any particular formula.

Mr. Shore

This year I decided in March upon certain ground rules for the distribution of the needs element. I hope to be able to follow this practice in 1978, and I shall ensure that my decisions are given wide publicity. But I must emphasise that it will not be possible to exemplify the effects of any particular decision or formula on individual authorities until the autumn.

45. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further representations he has received from the Essex County Council concerning the rate support grant.

Mr. Shore

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton).