§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of revenue expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales is accounted for by the cost of administration for each year since 1970.
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§ Mr. John SilkinThe total cost of administration is not readily available. Figures are available relating to the costs of general administration as shown in the rate fund account, which covers solely the costs of central administrative departments before recharging to individual services. They do not cover the administrative work undertaken wholly within a particular local government service and will reflect the tendency to centralise administrative work over time.
Expenditure on "general administration"* as a proportion of net expenditure chargeable to the rate fund Per cent. 1970–71 8 1971–72 9 1972–73 9 1973–74 9 1974–75 10½ * Net of sales, fees and charges other than recharges to other services.
§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new Acts of Parliament have placed additional duties on local authorities since 1970; and what have been the effects on local government manpower.
§ Mr. OakesThe powers and duties of local authorities are so wide and varied that it would be impossible to answer the first part of the Question save at disproportionate public expense. Nor is it possible to make any accurate estimate of the effect on manpower of changes in statutory provisions as against other influences such as increases in the population or higher standards of services.
§ Mr. Durantasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total outturn expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. OakesThe figures are:
Net expenditure chargeable to the rate fund in monery terms1 Local authorities in England and Wales £ million 1970–1 3,740 1971–2 4,303 1972–3 5,061 1973–4 6,148 1974–5 (provisional estimate) 8,064 (1) Expenditure on rate fund services—net of income from sales, fees and charges—and rate fund contributions to other accounts.