HC Deb 23 March 1982 vol 20 cc311-2W
Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of local authority total rate and grant borne expenditure was made up by wages and salaries in each of the last five years.

Mr. King

Following are the available estimates for England:

Wages and Salaries in current expenditure† as a percentage of rate and grant borne expenditure‡
per cent.
1976–77 67.0
1977–78 66.8
1978–79 67.1
1979–80 66.2
* 1980–81 67.5

* Provisional

† Wages and salaries include employers' contribution to superannuation funds and payments to beneficiaries under pension schemes not chargeable to superannuation funds. Although there are wages and salaries elements in the non-current expenditure items in rate and grant

Mr. King

The following table gives the latest available figures. The figures for 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81 have been revalued to 1981–82 settlement prices; provisional entitlements for 1982–83 are given in cash.

For the first three years, the table shows needs element, the resources element that remained in the district or borough after precepts had been taken, and payments under the London rate equalisation scheme. Domestic element and domestic rate relief grant are not included. Final entitlements are shown for 1978–79 and 1979–80, and payments made by 19 March 1982 for 1980–81. Estimated entitlements at first supplementary report stage are shown for 1981–82. The 1982–83 figures are the grant claims at budgeted levels of expenditure; these will be subject to further checking and to a close-ending adjustment, initially a proportionate reduction estimated at less than 1 per cent.

Because of the introduction of block grant in 1981–82, it is not possible to make a useful comparison with earlier years at district or borough level, since under the old system grant was not calculated separately for fie metropolitan counties and the precepting authorities in London.

borne expenditure these cannot be measured.

‡ Rate fund revenue expenditure net of sales, fees, and charges etc to be financed by rates, balances, RSG, relevant specific and supplementary grants, and mandatory student awards grant.