HC Deb 28 October 1981 vol 10 cc389-90W
24. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has published his proposals for dealing with overspending by local authorities.

Mr. Heseltine:

A technical memorandum on the proposed new rating procedures for 1982–83 was issued on 30 September. Copies have been placed in the Library. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Battersea, South (Mr. Dubs) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander).

26. Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which authorities have increased their spending plans since he requested them to revise their budgets.

Mr. Heseltine:

51 English local authorities have increased their spending plans this year, though the majority of these increases are very minor, and 28 are in authorities which are still within their volume targets. The vast bulk of the planned increase has taken place in three large Socialist authorities: the GLC, Merseyside, and the West Midlands.