§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his meeting with hon. Members representing Liverpool constituencies to discuss the city's budget situation.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe five Liverpool Labour Members of Parliament and the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) came to see me on 26 September at their request. I made clear my view that the solution to Liverpool city council's budget problem remained firmly in the hands of the council. Its officers had put before it options which would enable services to be maintained during this financial year, and what was required was the political will to take the necessary decisions. I said that I was not prepared to meet city councillors while they continued to behave unreasonably. There has been no change in my position since that meeting.