§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans for revising the ceilings on rate rebates.
LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPLOYEES IN GREAT BRITAIN Operatives on construction: October 1978 April 1979 October 1979 New work— Housing … … … … 10,119 8,769 8,214 Non-housing … … … … 9,927 10,102 8,907 Repair and maintenance— Housing … … … … 74,494 74,856 74,533 Non-housing … … … … 69,140 67,526 67,103 Total … … … … 163,680 161,253 158,757 Administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff (APTC) engaged on design, management and control of construction work: Total … … … … 86,630 88,125 89,086 Note: Construction work controlled by APTC staff may be carried out either by direct labour or by contractors.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the local authorities which have received loan sanction to build dwellings by direct labour since 25 June 1979, naming the scheme in each case, the gross tender price and the number of dwellings involved;
(2) whether any local authorities have received loan sanction since 25 June 1979 to build dwellings for sale by direct labour; and, if so, whether he will name the scheme in each case, the gross tender
186W
§ Mr. KingI have just completed a review of the maximum rate rebates. I propose to increase the maxima from £4.50 a week to £6.75 a week in London and from £3.20 to £4.80 a week in the rest of England and Wales. This will restore the maxima to the value they had when they were last increased in 1978.
The new maxima will be implemented later this year; the precise timing of their introduction will be a matter for consultation with the local authority associations.