HC Deb 25 January 1984 vol 52 cc618-9W
Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities in England will be affected by the specific rate capping provisions of the Rates Bill.

Mr. Waldegrave

My right hon. Friend will make no selection of authorities for rate limitation in 1985–86 until he has seen the evidence of 1984–85 budgets. He has however indicated that he expects to select only those authorities spending substantially in excess of GRE which are not showing themselves ready to make satisfactory reductions without the need for selection.

Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those authorities in England which would be affected by rate capping if all overspending councils were to have determined as their expenditure level under clause 3 of the Rates Bill (a) their present cash target limit and (b) their grant-related expenditure assessment figure.

Mr. Waldegrave

Expenditure levels under clause 3 of the Rates Bill will be determined after authorities have been selected for rate limitation.