asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission a special audit of the accounts of the Humberside county council.

The precept levied by the Labour-controlled county council represents by far the highest increase of any shire county and reflects the council's decision to spend substantially above the Government's expenditure target for 1982–83.The level of rate increase is not, of itself, a matter on which it would be appropriate for the auditor to take action. However, if the expenditure stemming from the increase were, in the district auditor's view, either illegal or unreasonable he is empowered to initiate action to surcharge the members at any time; an extraordinary audit is not necessary.