HC Deb 30 October 1985 vol 84 cc516-7W
5. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the annual report of the Audit Commission concerning systems for controlling local authorities' revenue and capital spending.

Mr. Waldegrave

We welcomed the commission's report on the capital control system when it was published as a useful contribution to our review of the system. We will be responding fully to the report on the block grant distribution system when we have examined the Public Accounts Committee's findings following a parallel report by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

13. Mr. Foster

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the report of the study of local government finance conducted by the Minister for Local Government will include tables of the likely effect of any proposed charges upon different types of household and for each district in England.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

It will contain the material necessary for the wide-ranging consultation we shall be seeking.

16. Mr. Nicholas Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the studies on local government finance will be published.

34. Mr. Redmond

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of studies into the future of local government finance.

35. Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to the conclusions of the report of the inquiry into British housing, a copy of which has been sent to him.

46. Mr. Torney

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects the study of local government finance to be published and in what form.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

We hope to publish proposals in a consultative document at about the turn of the year.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have applied and subsequently received a relaxation of the prescribed proportion of capital receipts.

Mrs. Rumbold

I understand the hon. Member is referring to the supplementary capital expenditure allocations for 1985–86 given to English local authorities which complied with the Government's request for restraint on capital spending in 1984–85. Two hundred and thirty two authorities have received such allocations so far. One hundred and eighteen authorities have admitted non-compliance with the restraint and another 48 authorities have had their applications rejected. The position of the remaining 16 authorities will be determined once they have provided the information requested of them.

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