§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amount by which he plans to reduce expenditure for 1974–75 and in the balance of the current year as a result of the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December, indicating the main areas where such reductions will take place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe reduction in capital programmes for which my Department is responsible is expected to total £25 million in 1974–75. It is not possible to give a precise figure for the reduction in procurement expenditure but I estimate that this will be about £6½ million. The saving which will be made in the remainder of 1973–74 as a consequence of action to reduce expenditure next year will depend upon the precise way in which the 1974–75 reductions are arranged. The main fields affected will be roads, education, environmental services and health and personal social services.
§ Mr. Cledwyn Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions will be made in expenditure on roads, transport, other environmental services, education, health and personal social services, respectively, in the Gwynedd County area in the years 1973–74 and 1974–75.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasIt is not possible at this stage to forecast what reductions will be made in any particular part of Wales since much will depend on what schemes are put to me for approval by the local authorities concerned.