§ Mr. Churchillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much her Department's expenditure per capita in the North-West Region exceeds, or is less than, that of the national average per capita in respect of her Department.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI regret that comprehensive information in the form requested is not readily available. The largest element in the expenditure borne directly by my Department is for recurrent and capital grants to the universities: in the financial year 1976–77, this expenditure represented £13.22 per head of population in Great Britain, or £12.74 per head excluding the Open University, and grants to the universities located in the North-West Region represented £10.57 per head of the regional population.
The main form of Exchequer support for local government services, including education and related services, is the rate support grant which is covered by the hon. Member's question to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.