asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why requests for consents from the Greater London council for the provision of vehicle hire services and printing were refused; and if he will make a statement.

I will answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will define an inequitable shift of burden between London ratepayers and those in the rest of the United Kingdom as referred to in paragraph 5 of his consultation paper dealing with the effects of the disappearance of the Greater London council precept.

Our intention is to ensure as far as possible that the financial effects of abolition itself are fair as between ratepayers in different areas. The detailed financial arrangements to achieve this are being discussed with representatives of local government in the London working party of the grants working group.