HC Deb 21 March 1978 vol 946 cc485-7W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made with the review of travelling and subsistence allowances for local councillors announced in November 1976.

Mr. Shore

Following the statement I made on 22nd November 1976 in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Edge), discussions have taken place between representatives of Government Departments and of the local authority associations about members' travelling and

London Boroughs
Wandsworth … … … +1.6
Westminster … … … +0.2
Barking … … … +0.2
Barnet … … … +0.5
Bexley … … … +0.2
Brent … … … +1.6
Bromley … … … +0.5
Croydon … … … +1.2
Ealing … … … +1.7
Enfield … … … +1.1
Haringey … … … +2.4
Harrow … … … +0.1
Havering … … … -0.8
Hillingdon … … … +1.0
Hounslow … … … +0.5
Kingston … … … -0.5
Merton … … … +1.1
Newham … … … +0.1
Redbridge … … … +1.6
Richmond … … … +2.3
Sutton … … … +0.7
Waltham Forest … … … +1.6

Mr. Miscampbell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the Official Report the total sum of rate support grant for the years 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79, respectively, measured both at current and at fixed prices which have been made available to the Lancashire County Council.

Mr. Guy Barnett

The total sums of rate support grant which have been made available to Lancashire County Council for the years 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79, respectively, measured both at outturn and at 1975–76 fixed prices, are as follows:

subsistence allowances.—[Vol. 919, c. 839–40.] As a result of those discussions, it has been agreed that further consideration should be given to the following issues:

  1. (a) Section 174(3) of the Local Government Act 1972, which precludes members from claiming subsistence allowances for approved duties performed within three miles of their home; and
  2. (b) the harmonisation of members' and officers' travelling allowances.

In December 1977, the local authority associations submitted to this Department a paper proposing the repeal of Section 174(3) of the 1972 Act. This paper, now under consideration by Departments, and the feasibility of harmonising members' and officers' travelling allowances, will be the subject of further discussions with local government representatives.

The rates of members' travelling and subsistence allowances have also since been reviewed in consultation with the local authority associations and were increased with effect from 31st January 1978.