§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to approve a budget for the London boroughs grant scheme; and what steps he is taking to ensure the future well-being of those schemes approved for the current financial year.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 6 March 1991]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no power to approve a budget for the London boroughs grants scheme. This is a matter for agreement by the constituent boroughs. However, at the request of the London boroughs grants committee, he has agreed to exercise his power to set a limit on the maximum expenditure of the scheme in 1991–92 and has set it at £30.155 million.