HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc642-3W
74. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what information he based his decision not to rate-cap Basildon council in the current financial year.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State decided in July last year not to designate Basildon for rate limitation in 1989–90 on the best information then available to him about Basildon's likely total expenditure for 1988–89, namely the budget return for 1988–89 dated 14 April 1988.