§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the percentage cut which he has asked local authorities to make in their budgets for the current year compared with their 1978–79 expenditure is 5.6 per cent.; and why he has chosen 1978–79 as the base year.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe volume of net current expenditure for local authorities in England envisaged in the 1981–82 rate support grant settlement is 5.6 per cent. lower than their spending on the same definition in 1978–79. That year was chosen as the base when individual targets were first set in 1980–81 as it was the latest for which actual outturn figures were available. It was also the last full year of office of the Government in which the right hon. Member served, and places firmly in context the moderate but necessary reductions we are asking local government to achieve over the subsequent three years.
§ Mr. Kaufmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is intended that local authorities in England will have their grant claim cut by £300 million to keep within the grant cash limit; if not, whether he will give the current position; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineI will answer this question shortly.