§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's response will be to requests from local authorities to promote private legislation to deal with the problem of nuisance created by dogs in public places because of delay in promoting national legislation on the subject.
§ Mr. RifkindI hope that the legislation to replace the Burgh Police Acts, which expire at the end of 1982, will greatly reduce the need for local legislalation, but I would not enter objections
516Wnot only the following year's allocation but the following five years' allocation of capital resources in the month of September to apply for the period commencing the following April to enable local authorities to plan their future spending.
§ Mr. YoungerNo. Local authorities are given as much notice as possible of the capital expenditure which I can authorise, consistent with the Government's public expenditure plans. The present financial planning system meets this requirement, with the issue of guidelines for three years ahead in the summer and provisional allocations for the following year in the autumn.