To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will release additional funding to enable local authorities to upgrade standards of cleanliness in public places.

The matter of any cost implications that may arise for local authorities in upgrading standards of cleanliness in public places and other provisions contained in the Environmental Protection Bill has been raised in the round of discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on local government finance in 1991–92. They will be taken into account in establishing the level of aggregate external finance for that year.