§ Dr. Twinnasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, once the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils have ceased to exist, he plans to alter, for the London boroughs, the City of London and the metropolitan district councils in England, the existing limitation of the product of a two penny rate on expenditure, which may be incurred under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe latest information available to the Department does not indicate that, in general, the proposed successor authorities are unduly restricted, either by the current arrangements for section 137 or by the use of other relevant powers, in meeting the genuine needs of their areas, including the, giving of grants to voluntary bodies and assistance to industry. While we see no reason to alter the limit so as to enable those successor authorities to accommodate the full amount of expenditure which the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils will be incurring under section 137 prior to their proposed abolition, I will, keep the position carefully under review, and will be prepared to take account of any fresh factors which authorities and the voluntary sector may put to me.