Local Government Expenditure (Hansard, 24 January 1978)

§ Mr. Dunnett
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report an analysis by main programmes, and distinguishing between capital and current expenditure and interest charges, of the increases in local authorities' expenditure as estimated for 1977–78 and as planned for 1978–79 shown in Table 6 of Command Paper No. 7049-I.

§ Mr. Joel Barnett
Analyses of local authority expenditure in 1977–78 and 1978–79 by main programme at 1977 survey prices are provided in Tables 4.2 (Scotland) and 4.5 (England and Wales) of Part II of Cmnd. 7049. A comparable breakdown of the Table 6 figures, which were estimated on an aggregate basis, is not available.

§ Mr. Dunnett
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the amounts of current expenditure on local authorities subsidies and grants included in each programme in Table 4.5 of Command Paper No. 7049-II, detailing in each case the main purpose of the expenditure, together with comparable figures for 1971–72, and the corresponding figures for Scotland.

§ Mr. Joel Barnett
I regret that comparable figures for 1971–72 cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. The information for the years covered by Command 7049 is as follows:
529W

LOCAL AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE ON SUBSIDIES AND CURRENT GRANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

£m. at 1977 survey prices

Programme number 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82

SUBSIDIES

Public transport 6 26 37 170 216 197 165 164 167 170 172

Housing 7 57 118 213 227 171 166 151 151 151 151

Other local services 8 10 12 44 43 43 37 30 30 30 30

CURRENT GRANTS

Rent Rebates 7 11 47 65 74 83 86 90 94 98 102

Rent allowances 7 11 47 55 55 75 77 77 78 77 77

Other local services 8 — 1 2 2 10 5 5 5 5 5

Schools (other than primary or secondary) 10 71 76 78 95 96 93 88 84 81 77

Universities (mostly student awards) 10 116 134 137 140 151 221 234 251 261 271

Further education (student support) 10 156 190 192 190 196 274 297 320 348 361

Total 458 662 956 1,042 1,022 1,124 1,136 1,180 1,221 1,246

LOCAL AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE ON SUBSIDIES AND CURRENT GRANTS IN SCOTLAND

£m, at 1977 survey prices

Programme number 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82

SUBSIDIES

Public transport 6 4 7 10 22 16 19 20 23 23 23

Housing 7 58 46 62 47 39 44 38 34 30 28

Water supply and conservation 8 12 12 13 14 12 13 13 13 13 13

Other local services 8 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

CURRENT GRANTS

Rent rebates 7 2 5 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 11

Rent allowances 7 — 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 4

Urban programme 8 — — — — — — — 1 1 1

Schools (other than primary or secondary) 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Further education 10 4 3 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 4

Total 87 82 106 105 87 98 94 95 92 91

530W 531W

§ Mr. Dunnett
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the amounts included in local authorities current expenditure detailed in Table 4.5 of Command Paper No. 7049-II in respect of rent rebates and allowances, mandatory student grants, pupils' free school meals, the net or gross cost as appropriate of school meals, public transport revenue support and rate 532W fund contributions to housing revenue accounts, together with the corresponding figures for 1971–72 and similar figures for Scotland.

§ Mr. Joel Barnett
I regret that comparable figures for 1971–72 are not available without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. The information for the years covered by Command 7049 is as follows:
533W

LOCAL AUTHORITY CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN ENGLAND AND WALES

£m. at 1977 survey prices

1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82

Rent rebates and allowances 22 94 120 129 158 163 167 172 175 179

Mandatory student grants 231 252 253 253 269 394 410 432 447 462

Pupils' free school meals 78 75 71 76 73 108 132 128 125 122

Net cost of school meals 291 338 398 416 404 362 313 257 256 252

Public transport revenue support 26 37 170 216 197 165 164 167 170 172

Rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts 57 118 213 227 171 166 151 151 151 151

LOCAL AUTHORITY CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN SCOTLAND

£m. at 1977 survey prices

1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82

Rent rebates and allowances 2 6 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15

Mandatory student grants 40 38 37 39 43 62 62 64 66 66

Pupils' free school meals 13 13 12 11 11 15 18 17 17 16

Net cost of school meals 31 33 36 37 38 34 30 26 25 24

Public transport revenue support 4 7 10 22 16 19 20 23 23 23

Rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts 58 46 62 47 39 44 38 34 30 28

534W

LOCAL AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE ON SUBSIDIES AND CURRENT GRANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
£m. at 1977 survey prices
	Programme number	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
SUBSIDIES
Public transport	6	26	37	170	216	197	165	164	167	170	172
Housing	7	57	118	213	227	171	166	151	151	151	151
Other local services	8	10	12	44	43	43	37	30	30	30	30
CURRENT GRANTS
Rent Rebates	7	11	47	65	74	83	86	90	94	98	102
Rent allowances	7	11	47	55	55	75	77	77	78	77	77
Other local services	8	—	1	2	2	10	5	5	5	5	5
Schools (other than primary or secondary)	10	71	76	78	95	96	93	88	84	81	77
Universities (mostly student awards)	10	116	134	137	140	151	221	234	251	261	271
Further education (student support)	10	156	190	192	190	196	274	297	320	348	361
Total		458	662	956	1,042	1,022	1,124	1,136	1,180	1,221	1,246

LOCAL AUTHORITY EXPENDITURE ON SUBSIDIES AND CURRENT GRANTS IN SCOTLAND
£m, at 1977 survey prices
	Programme number	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
SUBSIDIES
Public transport	6	4	7	10	22	16	19	20	23	23	23
Housing	7	58	46	62	47	39	44	38	34	30	28
Water supply and conservation	8	12	12	13	14	12	13	13	13	13	13
Other local services	8	6	7	7	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
CURRENT GRANTS
Rent rebates	7	2	5	7	8	8	9	9	10	11	11
Rent allowances	7	—	1	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	4
Urban programme	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1
Schools (other than primary or secondary)	10	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Further education	10	4	3	4	5	3	4	4	4	4	4
Total		87	82	106	105	87	98	94	95	92	91

LOCAL AUTHORITY CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN ENGLAND AND WALES
£m. at 1977 survey prices
	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
Rent rebates and allowances	22	94	120	129	158	163	167	172	175	179
Mandatory student grants	231	252	253	253	269	394	410	432	447	462
Pupils' free school meals	78	75	71	76	73	108	132	128	125	122
Net cost of school meals	291	338	398	416	404	362	313	257	256	252
Public transport revenue support	26	37	170	216	197	165	164	167	170	172
Rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts	57	118	213	227	171	166	151	151	151	151

LOCAL AUTHORITY CURRENT EXPENDITURE IN SCOTLAND
£m. at 1977 survey prices
	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82
Rent rebates and allowances	2	6	9	10	10	11	12	13	14	15
Mandatory student grants	40	38	37	39	43	62	62	64	66	66
Pupils' free school meals	13	13	12	11	11	15	18	17	17	16
Net cost of school meals	31	33	36	37	38	34	30	26	25	24
Public transport revenue support	4	7	10	22	16	19	20	23	23	23
Rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts	58	46	62	47	39	44	38	34	30	28