§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services has refused to meet hon. Members from Staffordshire to discuss the rate support grant for Staffordshire.
§ Mr. KingI regret that all requests from hon. Members to discuss the position of particular authorities under the rate support grant have had to be refused in accordance with the normal convention that Ministers do not meet such delegations during the months preceding the rate support grant settlement while the overall balance of the grant distribution is being considered.