§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the total addition to local authorities' expenditure in 1977–78 in England and Wales of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's increase of 2 per cent. on employers' national insurance contributions; and whether it is the Government's intention that this should be met through an increase in rate support grant, by additional contributions from the rates or through a reduction in staff.
§ Mr. John SilkinIt is estimated on the basis of the number of local government employees in England and Wales, including police, at March 1976 that the additional cost of the proposed increase in the employers' share of the national insurance contribution will be £145 million a year. The cost to the local authorities would count as part of the total of relevant expenditure for rate support grant purposes.