§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of all the notes on the impact of the Government's rate reform proposals provided to representatives of the provincial press on 23 March; and if he will list the representatives of the press who received them and the areas of England to which they relate.
§ Mr. ChopeOn 23 March my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and I met representatives of the 223W regional press, at their request, to discuss the Government's proposals for the reform of the rating system. Those concerned were given notes summarising the likely effect of the new system on the areas of interest to them. The journalists concerned, and the areas they cover, were as follows:
- Gordon Jackson (Newcastle, Moddlesbrough, Reading, north-east Lancashire);
- Maurice Toasland (Wolverhampton);
- Stan Sparks (Birmingham);
- Ian Craig (Manchester);
- Alan Goddard (Hull, Grimsby);
- Jack Foster (Bradford, York, Brighton).
- Chris Walker (Liverpool) was invited to attend but was unable to do so.
On the same day copies of the relevant notes were sent to the hon. Members most concerned. Copies have been placed in the Library.