Mr. Ronald W. Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what are his powers to ensure that local authorities pay rates lawfully precepted upon them by the receiver of the Metropolitan police;
(2) whether he proposes to take action to oblige Hackney borough council to pay rates precepted upon it for the Metropolitan police if the council withholds payment in accordance with its resolution of 23 February.
§ Mr. Giles ShawSection 15 of the General Rate Act 1967 provides that any precepting authority may, after giving notice to the rating authority, apply to the Secretary of State for a certificate to the effect that he is satisfied that the rating authority have refused to raise, or having raised have failed to pay, the amount due to the precepting authority. An application may then be made to appoint a receiver to recover the precept plus any interest due.
Although I cannot prejudge any decision that might be made in the light of the details of a particular case, it is clear that in the event of a wilful refusal to meet the Metropolitan Police precept steps could and would be taken to enforce the payment of the sums due.