§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further developments have taken place since his announcement in December 1987 of the proposed limits for rate-capped authorities in 1988–89.
§ Mr. RidleyOf the 17 rate-capped authorities, three—Manchester, Middlesbrough and Kingston upon Hull—accepted the proposed rate limit within the statutory period. I understand that a further authority, Tower Hamlets, also accepts the limit proposed in December.
The remaining 13 authorities have not accepted the proposed limit. After considering the representations made by authorities, including proposals from some of them to agree with me an increase in the limit, and having taken into account any other relevant information, I am proposing
- (a) in the case of eight of these authorities—Basildon, Haringey, Lewisham, Waltham Forest, Thamesdown, Newcastle upon Tyne, Lambeth and Liverpool—no increase in the provisional limit;
- (b) in the five other cases a higher limit, on which I am seeking agreement, as follows:
- Hackney 136.00p (12.20p above the proposed limit)
- Southwark 101.00p (2.98p above the proposed limit)
- Camden 117.00p (1.59p above the proposed limit)
- Greenwich 136.00p (10.28p above the proposed limit)
- Ealing 167.00p (41.94p above the proposed limit)
Where I am unable to reach agreement with an authority on a different limit from the one proposed in December, I am required under the Rates Act to specify the maximum by order.