HC Deb 14 July 1978 vol 953 c810W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the per capita average of the current year's rate support grant for Greater Manchester and Greater London, respectively; and if he will explain the difference.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The figures based on the initial calculations for the year are:

Greater Manchester £165.2
Greater London £148.5

A higher proportion of resources element of rate support grant is paid to the Greater Manchester authorities because of that area's lower rateable resources per head of population. The difference is to a large extent offset by the much higher per capita grant being paid to London by way of the needs element, which is designed to compensate for differences in the amount authorities need to spend per head of population, and the domestic element—paid to authorities to reimburse them for the relief given to domestic ratepayers—and thus reflecting the higher average domestic rateable value in Greater London.

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