§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increase in loan charges to local authorities since April 1974.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe available information is as follows:
LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES LOAN CHARGES (£ MILLION) Amount* Increase on previous year (on comparable basis) 1973–74 … … 1,852† — 1,642 — 1974–75 … … 2,164 +522 1975–76 … … 2,651 +487 * All accounts (rate fund, housing revenue account and trading). † Includes about £210 million relating to services for which local authorities ceased to be responsible in April 1974 (viz. water, sewerage and national health).