HC Deb 14 January 1993 vol 216 cc773-5W
Mr. Haselhurst

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to set up the inquiry to assess the adequacy of fire protection measures at the royal palaces; and if he will make a statement.

The reduction of £68 million is larger than had been allowed for in drawing up the spending plans we made last year and £56 million of it will be met by increased revenue support grant to local authorities. Local authorities are being asked to contribute the remaining £12 million through efficiency savings.

The table shows the rate poundages which I intend to prescribe for each local authority in regulations I shall lay before Parliament very shortly. Apart from Orkney and Shetland and, as a result of the reduction for next year, Kincardine and Deeside, which are at the English level, the poundage of every authority has been reduced in cash terms. As last year, I have decided to make larger reductions to those poundages furthest from the English non-domestic rate. As a result, the poundage reductions in real terms range from over 8.8 per cent. in Glasgow to 2.1 per cent. in the case of Kincardine and Deeside.

The reduction in poundages will again be accompanied by an associated reduction in derating: from 25 to 17.5 per cent. The reduction takes into account the additional £40 million reduction in poundages for this year made following the 1992 Budget.

Our decision to reduce business rates and to increase revenue support grant next year beyond our original plans yet again, at a time when resources are very scarce, continues to demonstrate the high priority we give to it. We remain committed to eliminating the difference between Scotland and England just as quickly as resources permit.

Mr. Brooke

I am pleased to announce that Sir Alan Bailey, former permanent secretary to the Department of Transport, has agreed to chair the inquiry. The other members are Mr. Donald Insall, architect and planning consultant and principal of Donald W. Insall and Associates and Mr. Philip Kilshaw, former deputy senior fire safety inspector in Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate. The terms of reference of the inquiry are: In the light of the Windsor Castle fire to assess the adequacy of fire protection measures for the royal palaces and residences for which I have a financial responsibility, and to report to me.

The inquiry group has already started work and I hope that it will be able to report within three to four months. The report will be published. I shall make a further statement when I have considered the report.