§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with representatives of the Liverpool city council.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI met representatives of Liverpool city council on 30 January. I had said I would do so once the council acted legally by making a balanced budget for 1985–86.
I told the councillors that I hoped they were now ready to tackle Liverpool's acknowledged housing and environmental problems in a spirit of partnership. But I warned them not to expect any more cash from the Government. I pointed out that the House had approved the rate support grant report which gives effect to the RSG settlement for 1986–87 for all local authorities. Under the settlement, Liverpool city council could qualify to receive RSG next year approaching £130 million, some £10 million more than in 1985–86.
I made clear to the councillors that they should now use the resources available to them more effectively for the benefit of people in Liverpool.