§ 71. Mr. C. Johnsonasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the amount of public expenditure on National Parks for each of the 10 years since the coming into operation of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.
§ Sir K. JosephI do not know what local authorities have spent under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. Government expenditure chargeable to the Vote of my right hon. Friend's Department, has been as follows:
— Cost of the National Parks Commission Grants to Local authorities £ £ 1950–51 … … 17,244 — 1951–52 … … 22,285 — 1952–53 … … 21,358 — 1953–54 … … 21,114 — 1954–55 … … 23,629 3,572 1955–56 … … 27,846 7,874 1956–57 … … 31,661 4,331 1957–58 … … 33,314 6,355 1958–59 … … 34,955 6,529 1959–60 … … 37,182 8,680 £270,588 £37,341 These figures include small amounts for long distance footpaths outside National Parks, and for areas of outstanding natural beauty. In addition, some expenditure in respect of National Parks is incurred by Departments responsible for common services—the Ministry of Works, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, the Ordnance Survey and the Central Office of Information.