§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met local authority representatives to discuss the effects of cuts in direct subsidies for community charge/housing benefits on the level of community charges for 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI have been asked to reply.
188WMy right hon. Friend the Minister of State met representatives of the local authority associations on 24 September to discuss the proposal to reduce from 97 per cent. to 95 per cent. the rate of direct subsidy for community charge benefit and certain housing benefit cases from April 1991. This change has been fully taken into account in the proposed local authority finance settlements for 1991–92, and the distributional consequences should be minimal.