HC Deb 29 July 1964 vol 699 cc1402-3
10. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much extra financial assistance has been given to local authorities as a direct result of the publication and implementation of the plans outlined in the White Paper on Central Scotland.

Mr. Noble

The increasing investment by local authorities resulting from the White Paper is attracting appropriate increases in grant through the normal grant arrangements. But these arrangements relate, to a considerable extent, to the activities of the authorities as a whole, and thus it is not possible to construct a figure on the basis suggested.

Mr. Hamilton

Is not the right hon. Gentleman being too coy about this? Why does he not tell us the amount of money which the central Government are giving as a direct result of this White Paper? Is he aware that many local authorities are certain that they are largely shouldering the burden and that the central Government are contributing hardly anything additional to that which was provided before the White Paper was produced?

Mr. Noble

I do not think that that is the view of most local authorities. They have had detailed discussions with the Minister of State on these problems. I do not think that that view is widely held; they know very well what the central Government are paying and what they are paying.

Miss Harvie Anderson

Is it not true that the public investment by the central Government in Scotland will increase from £100 million to £140 million in two years, and does not this represent 11 per cent. of the total public investment for an area which contains only 7½ per cent. of the population?

Mr. Noble

These figures were brought out in the debate last week. They are important.

Mr. Ross

While it is true that these figures were brought out, it has also been brought out in Answers that the bulk of the expenditure is falling on local authorities, that no additional financial support is being given by the central Government and that the rate burden in Scotland, which is high enough, is rising. The right hon. Gentleman's own authority announced recently another increase of 1s. in the £ in the rate burden. When will he meet the needs of local authorities for finance?

Mr. Noble

It is very ingenuous of the hon. Member to suggest that the whole of this expenditure is coming out of local authorities. As he knows, there is a great expenditure on trunk roads, to which local authorities pay nothing at all, and, in addition, the Government make a very large grant towards almost every single thing which local authorities do.

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