§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress there has been, since his reply to the hon. Member for Banbury on 2 February,Official Report, column 356, in the finalising of rate limits for rate-capped authorities in 1989–90.
§ Mr. RidleyI announced on 2 February that Tower Hamlets had accepted the proposed rate limit that I announced in December and that I was seeking the agreement of Hackney and Southwark to limits—113p and 97p respectively—which were higher than those I proposed in December. Southwark accepted the limit I proposed; and I have now agreed a rate limit of 122p with Hackney. In the four cases where I was not minded to agree an increase over the rate limits I proposed in December, I looked very carefully at all the relevant information and representations I had received. I was not persuaded, however, that I should take a different view from that which I announced on 2 February. I therefore yesterday laid an order before the House in draft. I have also now considered some later information I received from Camden, but remain unpersuaded that an increase in their limit would be appropriate. I shall therefore be seeking the approval of the House to the rate limits specified in the draft order.