asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the discussions now proceeding for giving increased financial help to hard-pressed local authorities through a revision of the block grant, he will calculate his new formula on the basis that the principle of equal pay is going to be applied in the local govenment service in the reasonably near future.

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if this new adjustment of the block grant does not take account of the principle of equal pay, it will only have to be adjusted all over again in the future when he comes to fulfil his promise, and would it not be better to do the whole job properly at one go?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the very carefully considered statement I made on this subject last week, on which she asked a supplementary question. We must take things as we find them, and at the present moment we are proposing to revise the block grant on the basis of the existing situation.