HC Deb 23 November 1978 vol 958 cc719-20W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that his announcement of the rate support arrangements for 1979–80 is made first to the House on a day when Government business is normally taken.

Mr. Shore

I shall inform the House of my proposals for the 1979–80 rate support grant settlement very shortly. The House will have the opportunity to discuss those proposals when the rate support grant orders, which are subject to affirmative resolution, are debated.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision is made in his allocation of rate support grant for county councils' contributions towards sheltered employment and satellite workshops; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Shore

For 1978–79, the total of relevant expenditure on which the rate support grant is based, includes estimated expenditure for these purposes by county councils of £11 million—at November 1977 prices. I shall announce my proposals for 1979–80 very shortly.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the rate support grant arrangements for 1979–80; and if he will avoid any further switch of needs element away from rural counties.

Mr. Shore

I shall announce the rate support grant settlement very shortly. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to wait until then to see my proposals on distribution.

Mr. Ovenden

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the expenditure of each English non-metropolitan county, metropolitan district and London borough will be met by the needs element of the rate support grant in 1978–79; and what the needs grant is per head of population in each case, and the product of a one penny rate.

Mr. Guy Barnett

Figures of individual English local authorities' total net revenue expenditure estimates for 1978–79, their estimated income from rate support grant needs element, and their estimated penny rate product and population are shown in "Financial, General and Rating Statistics 1978/9" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.