Mr. C. WILSONasked the Minister of Health whether he can state for recent 1056W years the additional annual expenditure incurred by local authorities in England and Wales consequent upon new, or increased, or revised duties imposed upon them by Parliament, and the amount of Government contributions included in such expenditure; and whether, if this is not possible for the past, arrangements can be made for the future to supply the information referred to in the case of all legislation which as yet is not in full operation?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am sending the hon. Member statements showing for recent years the sums expended on the various local services and the amounts received by way of Exchequer grants A comparison of these statements will show where there have been increases and where there have been decreases, but it is not possible to show how much of the variation from year to year is attributable to the operation of new statutory provisions, nor do I think that it will be practicable to supply such information for future years.