§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent consideration has been given to a home counties weighting being introduced in calculating rate support grant for counties such as Hertfordshire.
§ Mrs. RumboldWe have in the past considered representations on this subject from a number of the home counties. My predecessor wrote to my hon. Friend on 31 January. We have received no further representations from Hertfordshire since that date.
§ Mr. Murphyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent consideration has been given to rate support grant for counties such as Hertfordshire being no longer based on rateable values as a measure of ability to pay rates.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 requires block grant to be calculated according to the gross rateable value of each authority. However, we have over the past year been conducting wide-ranging studies of the whole local government finance system. We hope to publish our proposals around the turn of the year. There will then be extensive consultations.