§ 47. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, as a supplement to the estimate of local rates set forth in the financial statement, he can state the estimated aggregate expenditure of the local authorities during the financial year ended 31st March, 1932, defrayed out of rates and parliamentary grants of all kinds; and, if for comparison, he will give the corresponding figure for the year ended 31st March, 1914?
§ Major ELLIOTAs the reply contains a number of figures I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn view of the importance of these figures, can the hon. and gallant Member read them to the House?
§ Following is the answer:
§ The receipts in the year ending 31st March, 1914, from (a) Rates and (b) Exchequer Grants out of which the expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales and Scotland, not met from other specific receipts, was defrayed, were (a) £79,694,000 and (b) £25,608,000 respectively, making an aggregate expenditure of £105,302,000. The corresponding figure for receipts from rates only for the year ending the 31st March, 1932, is estimated at approximately £165,000,000, as shown in the Financial Statement (1932–33). The final figures for receipts from Exchequer Grants for that year are not yet available, but the-total, including grants from the Road Fund, is estimated to be approximately £153,000,000. The aggregate expenditure for 1931–32 is therefore estimated at approximately £318,000,000.