§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why it is that the 1984–85 grant-related expenditure approach adopted for interest receipts was not used for concessionary fares or debt charges in social services.
§ Mr. WaldegraveInterest receipts are a financing item and are determined by the level of balances authorities need to hold. The level of past spending on concessionary fares and social services has been determined to a considerable extent by discretionary decisions taken by local authorities. It would not be equitable for the GRE totals for these services to be split between classes of authority on the basis of past spending.