§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has replied to the letter to him of 11 January from the chief executive of Leicestershire county council regarding a reduction of £2.968 million in rate support grant to Leicestershire in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for this reduction.
§ Mr. Howard[holding answer 26 January 1988]: The council's letter of 11 January was a representation in response to the Department's consultation proposals for forthcoming supplementary reports for 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1986–87. It has been acknowledged and will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State before he makes final decisions on the supplementary reports. Under the consultation proposals, Leicestershire's rate support grant entitlements for the three years would not be reduced, but rather increased by about £600,000 in total. I shall write to my hon. Friend to explain why the council is wrong to assert that its grant is being reduced.