asked the Minister for the Environment the total amount of rates not collected by local authorities in 1980; the amount not collected to date in 1981; and the estimated total amount that will not be collected or cannot be collected in 1981.

At the end of 1980 the total amount of local rates uncollected was £13.14 million. Of the total due for collection in 1981, including arrears, the amount uncollected at 31 August 1981 was £66.8 million. It is not possible at this stage to forecast what the position will be at the end of 1981.

In view of the fact that local authorities will have a major shortfall in their finances because of lack of receipts from rates in 1981, has the Minister any plans to give additional finances to local authorities to ensure the maintenance of services and employment?

Since the Government came to office we have allocated £30 million for local authority housing schemes. We have made much smaller allocations recently for amenity purposes and so on. I accept what the Deputy has said that local authorities are very short of money this year. We have no other plans to give them additional money.