§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the items of expenditure for 124W which disregards have been requested by the Association of Metropolitan Authorities for 1983–84; what action he has taken or will be taking with regard to the request for expenditure on joint finance schemes with health authorities to be disregarded for the purpose of financial penalties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend has received representations from the association for the following items of expenditure to be disregarded for 1983–84 under section 8(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982: the residual costs for local authorities of the youth training scheme, their higher payments of national insurance surcharge, and authorities' increased expenditure on police. A number of local authorities have sought a disregard for expenditure on schemes financed jointly with health authorities. The Association of Metropolitan Authorities has written supporting that proposal to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. We shall consider all representations for disregards before taking final decisions on grant abatement for 1983–84.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will disregard, for the purpose of financial penalties, European Community social fund moneys awarded to local authorities for assistance to disadvantaged groups; what representations he has received on the matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveTo the extent that local authorities' expenditure on assistance to disadvantaged groups is supported from the European social fund, it will not count against expenditure targets and thus no disregard is necessary. My right hon. Friend has received no representations seeking a disregard for local authorities' contributions to the cost of schemes supported by the European social fund.