§ 22. Mr. John Evansasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce measures which will enable him to identify public expenditure per head of the population in the eight English regions which are served by an economic planning council.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettWe are continually improving our regional statistics, including statistics of relevant items of public expenditure, but I do not think it would be helpful to introduce special measures of the kind which my hon. Friend is suggesting. A comparison of public expenditure as a whole, even on a per capita basis, between the regions of England would have no clear significance.