Rate Support Grant

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:11 pm on 5 March 1987.

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Photo of Mr John Heddle Mr John Heddle , Staffordshire Mid 4:11, 5 March 1987

I accept that my right hon. Friend's statement relates to London, but does he agree that there is something rotten in the state of local government when the Leader of the Opposition's local authority—Ealing—meets tonight to set a rate which is about 80 per cent. higher than last year's and when the chairman of the independent Audit Commission identifies eight Labour-controlled inner-London boroughs which are inefficient and profligate? Does my right hon. Friend agree that now is the time for a root and branch reform of the local government finance system?