§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion in each case of the net expenditure in 1972–73 by local authorities in England and Wales on rent rebates, rates rebates, school meals, homes for the elderly, home helps and meals in the home met from specific grants, rate support grant, and rates; and what are the comparable figures for Scotland on the basis of the latest figures available.
§ Mr. OakesThe rate support grant is a general grant and is not allocated to individual services. Rates, too, provide general revenue for local authorities. The rent rebates and rate rebates figures in the reply to my hon. Friend on 29th April—[Vol. 891, c. 96–97]—represent the net expenditure met by local authorities—i.e., the balance after taking account of central Government grants.