HC Deb 17 December 1990 vol 183 cc19-20W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in theOfficial Report, for each standard region, the number of pensioner-only households, specifying those with only one pensioner occupant and those with two or more.

Mr. Key

Estimates of the numbers of pensioner-only households for each standard region are given in the table. These estimates are based on family expenditure survey data from 1987, 1988 and 1989 and "pensioners" is taken to be persons of pensionable age.

Thousands
Region One pensioner households Two or more pensioner households
Northern 235 115
Yorkshire and Humberside 380 215
North-West 410 240
East Midlands 250 185

Region Yield from 1 per cent. £ billion Children un-der 18 (thousands) Persons of pension age (thousands) Adults (all 18+) (thousands)
Northern 0.7 697 566 2,376
Yorkshire and Humberside 1.0 1,136 906 3,805
North-West 1.3 1,491 1,154 4,889
East Midlands 0.9 915 712 3,084
West Midlands 1.2 1,216 912 4,000
East Anglia 0.5 468 397 1,577
Greater London 2.6 1,510 1,172 5,246
Rest of South-East 3.4 2,408 1,974 8,219
South-West 1.2 1,009 982 3,643

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to establish constitutionally independent local authorities in the United Kingdom which would be able to raise their own revenue, go bankrupt, and be free from central Government capital controls.

Mr. Key

My right hon. Friend has announced that we are initiating a thorough review of local government finance and structure. No options have been ruled in or out at this stage.

Mr. Ken Hargreaves

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates revenue support grant and non-domestic rates will be paid to local authorities in 1991–92.

Mr. Portillo

Details of the profile of revenue support grant payments for England for the next financial year have been sent by my Department to local authorities. A copy of the Department's letter has been placed in the Library. The profile, which was determined after consultation with the local authority associations, should ensure that authorities who are diligent in collecting the community charge and non-domestic rates will be able to maintain an adequate cash flow.

Region One pensioner households Two or more pensioner households
West Midlands 350 215
East Anglia 145 135
Greater London 410 190
Rest of South-East 650 485
South-West 300 240