§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that the pool for redistribution through the London rate equalisation scheme will be sufficiently large as to preclude any 467W necessity for rate increases in any London borough due to the direct effects of the transfer of former Greater London council services to the control of boroughs.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Government's aim is to ensure that there is no enequitable shift in the balance of rates between different parts of London or between London and the rest of the country as a result of the abolition of the GLC. Under our proposals that would require an extension to the existing London rate equalisation scheme. We are currently considering the responses to our consultation papers on these proposals.