To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representatations he has received from local authorities about the removal of dividend tax credits from their pension funds. [8137]

[holding answer 11 July 1997]: We have received some representations from local authorities on this point.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect of local authority-funded pension schemes of the removal of dividend tax credits. [8136]

[holding answer 11 July 1997]: The extent to which the abolition of payable tax credits will affect contributions to the local government pension schemes will depend on the overall judgment made by schemes' actuaries when undertaking the next actuarial valuation.