§ Mr. Bulmerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the rate support grant to Hereford and Worcester county council in view of the increasing problems caused by rural depopulation.
§ Mr. KingProposals for increasing the recognition given to the cost of providing services in areas of sparse population have been put forward in official level discussions on the 1983–84 RSG settlement. I shall be considering these proposals in due course.