HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 cc523-4W
Sir Wyn Roberts

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will pay council tax reduction scheme grant to Welsh local authorities. [23295]

Mr. Hague

Council tax reduction scheme grant will be paid under section 88A of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, in three equal instalments in April, July and October 1996.

Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure is being sought in the 1996–97 main supply estimate for the local government, Wales vote—class XIV, vote 5. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure of £29.945 million on the first two instalments of grant to eligible authorities will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.