asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what repre- sentations he has secured from the Suffolk county council concerning the continuing inequity in central Government funding terms in the rural counties.

A number of hon. Members for Suffolk constituencies, including my hon. Friend, have made representations on the council's behalf.While I note the approval of the county council that the drift away from shire counties was ended in this year's distribution, I can confirm that we are working with the local authority associations on more satisfactory methods of assessing needs in future years.