asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the loss of grant, due to the proposed revision of distribution formula for needs element in the rate support grant, by the new Durham County Council, he will consider the proposals of the council that in a new county where the level of unemployment exceeded the national average by 0·5 per cent. or more, a special grant should be made when the total level of unemployment exceeded the national average.

Details of the 1974–75 grant settlement were given in Command Paper No. 5532. I have said that I am ready to consider possible improvements in the formula for later years.