§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the urban aid programme for each year since it was established; how much is planned for this programme in immediate future years; and what has been the general breakdown each year of the total expenditure as between different types of project.
§ Mr. SharplesTotal local authority expenditure in Great Britain during the last three complete financial years has been approximately £100,000; £2 million and £7,600,000. Current estimates for the next three years are £8,700,000; £14,300,000 and £10,400,000. The estimates for 1971–72 and 1972–73 include a special additional element of grant-aided capital spending in development and intermediate areas authorised as part of the Government's policy of encouraging improvements to the economic and social infrastructure in areas of high unemployment.
The range of work aided under the programme cannot conveniently be expressed in terms of annual expenditure 169W per type of project. But taking the expected total expenditure in England and Wales over the six years mentioned, about one-sixth relates to community centres and advice centres of various kinds, about one-sixth to miscellaneous social service projects, about one-sixth to day nurseries, about one-sixth to children's homes, play schemes and language teaching projects, and about one-third to nursery schools and nursery classes.