HL Deb 08 August 1980 vol 412 cc1773-4WA
Baroness STEDMAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent local authorities have overspent in the financial years from April 1970 to date.

Lord MOWBRAY and STOURTON

The available figures are as follows:

Year Actual relevant expenditure(1): under/over-spent in relation to approved expenditure for grant purposes in England and Wales
£m(outturn prices)(2) %(2)
1970–71 -31 -0.9
1971–72 51 +1.2
1972–73 77 +1.6
1973–74 -29 –0.5
1974–75 394 +5.4
1975–76 69 +0.7
1976–77 -203 -1.8
1977–78 -236 -1.9
1978–79 -130(3) -1.0(3)

Notes:

(1)These figures relate to expenditure relevant for grant purposes; this includes both direct current expenditure by authorities and internal financing flows.

(2) Under-spending shown as negative.

(3) Provisional (late amendments are still being received from authorities).

(4) 1979–80 outturn not yet available.

(5) 1980–81: year not completed. The original plans for the volume of current expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales for 1980–81, which were submitted last spring, were 5.6 per cent. above the Government's target for this year.