§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of Sate for Wales what is the annual estimate of population for the county of Gwynedd (a) on which the rate support grant settlements have been made for each year from 1970 to 1983 and (b) on the basis of latest available census information.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe county of Gwynedd came into existence on 1 April 1974. The estimates of population used in the rate support grant settlements since that date, and the dates to which the estimates refer, are as follows:
Settlement Estimate Population 1974–75 June 1972 219,890 1975–76 June 1974 223,500 1976–77 June 1975 224,600 1977–78 June 1976 225,700 1978–79 June 1976 225,700 1979–80 June 1977 226,800 1980–81 June 1978 226,400 1981–82 June 1979 226,300 1982–83 June 1980 226,700 1983–84 June 1981 233,000 The June 1981 estimate used for the 1983–84 settlement was based on the 1981 census and is the latest available estimate. The basis of estimation was population usually resident in the county. Estimates for earlier years were based in the 1971 census and the basis of estimation was population present in the county. The rate support grant settlements for the years 1974–75 to 1980–81 were dealt with by the Department of the Environment for all local authorities in England and Wales. Since 1981–82 the rate support grant settlements for Welsh local authorities have been dealt with by the Welsh Office.