§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for making a scheme under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
§ Mr. David HuntIt will be necessary to make a scheme under this section only following an emergency and a decision by the Government to provide financial help for local authorities. The details of the scheme will reflect the nature of the emergency. My Department has recently written to local authorities in England outlining the 669W changes envisaged in the Bellwin scheme following the reform of local government finance. I have placed a copy in the Library. It is proposed to pay grant at the rate of 85 per cent. of eligible expenditure over a threshold equivalent to £2 per adult.