§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the recently introduced consultation procedures which precede the making of local rates and precepts.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe duty on local authorities to consult representatives of industrial and commercial ratepayers before setting their rates and precepts has been in operation for two years. Experience in the first year suggested that, although there had been difficulties in some areas, local authorities were now generally much more aware of the problems and needs of their business ratepayers. We shall shortly be seeking views on the experience of the second year.