§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what in total is the increase in the interest rate burden borne by local authorities in England and Wales compared with the previous year; what is the percentage that commitment 313W represents of total local government expenditure in the area.
§ Mr. OakesI regret that outturn figures for local authority outstanding debt and interest paid for 1973–74 will not be available until the autumn, so it is impossible to provide the comparison asked for.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total increases in staff salaries in local government in England and Wales during the past year and the percentage total salaries represent in local government expenditure.
§ Mr. OakesFigures for total increases in wages and salaries for the year 1973–74 are not yet available. However, for the most recent years for which final figures have been produced—that is. 1971–72—expenditure on wages and salaries accounted for some 60 per cent. of total local authority revenue expenditure.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total increase due to the expansion of services, excluding education, experienced by local authorities in England and Wales during the past year; and what percentage this represents of their total expenditure.
§ Mr. OakesOutturn figures for 1973–74 are not yet available. The latest forecast for 1973–74, made in the autumn of 1973, allows for real growth in services over 1972–73 outturn—excluding services for which the Department of Education has responsibility—of some £230 million. This represents some 4 per cent. of the total relevant expenditure forecast for 1973–74.