§ Mr. Lyellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to use his powers under the Local Government Finance Act 1982 to reduce the rate support grant payable to local authorities in respect of 1981–82 and 1982–83.
§ Mr. HeseltineThe Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report (England) (No. 2) 1982 was laid yesterday. On approval this will give effect to the grant reductions previously proposed for authorities exceeding their expenditure guidance for 1981–82. Copies of the report, together with tables exemplifying the effects on individual authorities' grant entitlements, are available in the Vote Office.
Our proposals for grant reductions in 1982–83 were published in February this year. I have today placed in the Library figures showing the prospective grant reductions for each authority in the light of our proposals and authorities' expenditure plans for the year. I would expect a supplementary rate support grant report for 1982–83 to be made later in the year, in the light of any representations on these proposals.