HC Deb 23 October 1986 vol 102 cc947-8W
Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will make available additional funding to local authorities to enable them to carry out the adequate sampling and testing of milk;

(2) whether he will ascertain from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities whether Scottish local authorities require additional finance to carry out their environmental duties.

Mr. Ancram

Provision has been made for local authority current expenditure for 1987–88 at 3.75 per cent. over budgets for the present year, and guidelines have been increased by an average of 9.2 per cent. over their previous level. Local authorities should therefore have adequate resources to carry out all their duties. If the hon. Member has a particular problem in mind he may care to write to me.