§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how he expects his decision on the new expenditure levels within the metropolitan borough of Rotherham will affect the work of this authority to promote the economic regeneration of the derelict or non-derelict areas of the borough;
(2) if he will make it his policy to take steps to ensure that his recent decision to reduce the expenditure of the metropolitan borough of Rotherham will not affect the capacity of that authority or of the South Yorkshire hazardous waste unit to maintain supervision of the public and environmental needs of the area concerned;
(3) what is his estimate of the cuts in expenditure in 1990–91 which will now have to be made by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham in the fields of education, social services, highway maintenance, amenities and recreation, museums and libraries, environmental health and in the accommodation and housing provision for the elderly and disabled.
§ Mr. ChopeSpending priorities within any lower overall budget will be a matter for the metropolitan borough of Rotherham; as my right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 3 April, we are prepared to consider alternative proposals from Rotherham about the overall level of its budget.
§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs which will868W have to be met by the metropolitan borough of Rotherham in enabling it to implement his decision that the community charge shall be reduced.
§ Mr. ChopeAs he informed the House on 3 April, my right hon. Friend estimates the costs of community charge capping will be about £200,000 per charging authority and that the total costs will be between £6 million and £7 million.