§ Mr. Gerald Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to provide that the rate support grant for 1986–87 will be paid to local authorities at the level corresponding to the estimated expenditure resolved upon by its members, rather than at the level corresponding to official returns to his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldBlock grant payments are made from the beginning of each financial year on the basis of budgeted total expenditure certified by each authority's chief financial officer. Eventually they are adjusted in the light of outturn expenditure, certified by both the chief financial officer and the authority's auditor. My right hon. Friend has no immediate proposals to introduce legislation to change these arrangements.