HC Deb 02 February 1990 vol 166 c390W
Mr. Brandon-Bravo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will bring forward proposals for local authority councillors' allowances to take into account the size of the council; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether he will consider introducing greater allowances for elected councillors for those local authorities with populations in excess of 200,000 as against ex-rural district councils; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Knowles

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will make it his policy in considering changes to the scheme of local councillors' allowances to take account of the special situation of ex-county boroughs;

(2) whether he will make it his policy to take account in any changes to the scheme for local councillors' allowances of the position of the ex-county boroughs with populations in excess of 200,000;

(3) whether, in considering changes to the scheme of local councillors' allowances, he has considered the size of population of the local authority area;

(4) whether, in considering the suggested changes to the scheme of local councillors' allowances, he proposes to distinguish between district authorities with under 100,000 population and those with populations over 200,000.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

In discussions with the local authority associations we have made it clear that if they wish to propose a distribution of the total amounts available to particular types of authority by population bands we shall be ready to consider it. No such proposals have so far been received. However, following a meeting with the chairmen and leading members of the local authority associations on 25 January my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities has offered to consider any modifications to the proposals—within the basic framework that has already been established—which they are able to agree by 16 February. He has indicated that such modifications could be in respect of the distribution of the total resources, and it is open to the associations to propose population banding.

Mr. Brandon-Bravo

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowances are available to elected members of(a) district councils in rural areas and (b) county boroughs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

All councillors, whatever the type of authority, are currently entitled to either attendance or financial loss allowance, and travel and subsistence allowances, in respect of approved duties at a rate set by the authority, subject to maxima prescribed by the Secretary of State. In addition, a council may pay special responsibility allowances within prescribed maxima, which vary according to the type of authority and the population of its area.