§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what resources he is making available to charging authorities in England for the cost of preparing for the community charge in 1989–90.
§ Mr. RidleyAfter discussions with the local authority associations, I have concluded that half the provision of £110 million being included in the rate support grant settlement for 1989–90 for the current costs of preparing for the community charge will be met through a specific grant. This grant will be made to all charging authorities on a formula which reflects the number and relative mobility of chargepayers in each area. The remaining half of the expenditure will be supported by rate support grant in the normal way. My Department is today providing authorities with details of the amount of grant to be paid to them; copies of the letter to the authorities and a list of the estimated amounts of specific grant to be paid to charging authorities have been placed in the Library.
Capital allocations for 1989–90 will include specific allocations of £135 million for the capital costs of preparing for the community charge and there will be further discussions with the local authority associations on the method of allocation so that the details can be announced following the autumn statement on public expenditure.