HC Deb 05 December 1975 vol 901 cc755-6W
Mr. Nott

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Public Expenditure White Paper quantitative information about the financial transactions of the Government over the next five years, in particular the acquisitions of assets, payment of debt and accrual of profit to and amongst public authorities arising from the Community Land Bill, the extension of public ownership of industry and the activities of the British National Oil Corporation, the National Enterprise Board and the Development Agencies for Wales and Scotland.

Mr. Joel Barnett

To the extent that the transactions referred to fall within the definition of public expenditure, they will be included in the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

Mr. Nott

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish estimates of the contingency reserve and shortfall in money terms as well as demand terms in the next White Paper on Public Expenditure.

Mr. Joel Barnett

We shall consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the most recent figures available for public expenditure per head by county in the United Kingdom, expressed as a percentage of expenditure in England, on the basis previously given in the Kilbrandon Report, Table 15.1 and in a Parliamentary Answer on 12th November 1973, column 56.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I regret that the information is not available.

For estimates of identifiable public expenditure per head in each country of the United Kingdom, on a slightly broader definition than those referred to by the hon. Member I would refer him to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Dover and Deal (Mr. Rees) on 1st December.—[Vol. 901, c. 477–8.]

Mr. Wigley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total public expenditure in Wales and Scotland, respectively, will be represented by the expenditure earmarked for the two national assemblies outlined in Command Paper No. 6348.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Total public expenditure on devolved services in Wales would have amounted to rather more than half of identifiable public expenditure in Wales in 1974–75. In Scotland the proportion would have been nearly three-fifths. These estimates are given in paragraphs 223 and 99 of the White Paper.