Rate Support Grant

HC Deb 17 July 1979 vol 970 cc459-60W

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he plans to reduce, in respect of Wolverhampton, that part of the rate support grant intended for the support of free nursery education;

(2) if he plans to reduce, in respect of Wolverhampton, that part of the rate support grant intended for the support of subsidised school meals.

Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what effect his plan to reduce rate support grant will have on the provision of free and subsidised school meals on South Tyneside;

(2) what effect his plan to reduce the rate support grant will have on the provision of free nursery education in South Tyneside.

Mr. King

The rate support grant is a block grant paid in aid of a local authority's expenditure generally, and not earmarked to particular services. It is for each authority to decide on its own priorities within and between services.