§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many local authorities have exceeded in expenditure the cut to 5.6 per cent. below 1978–79 levels demanded by the Secretary of State for the Environment; how many are under the control respectively of each of the political parties; whether councillors responsible are to be surcharged; and, if so, in which cases, and what are the political affiliations of those affected.
§ Lord BellwinWe will not be in a position to know whether local authorities plan to make the reductions in current expenditure (5.6 per cent. below 1978–79) envisaged in our public expenditure plans for 1981–82 until we have received and examined authorities' returns of budget intentions in the spring. Whatever the outcome, the Government have no powers to surcharge councillors in respect of excess expenditure.
House adjourned at one minute past seven o'clock.