§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he has taken in fixing cash targets for local authorities of the level of charge expected to be made by the Audit Commission for audit services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveBefore making the rate support grant settlement for 1984–85 my right hon. Friend considered, in response to representations made to him, the case for this expenditure to be disregarded under section 8(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 in assessing liability to grant abatement. He has since received further representations about this which he will consider carefully before taking any decisions about implementing grant abatement for 1984–85.
§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each local authority in England per head of population (a) capital expenditure and (b) revenue expenditure for 1982–83 and budgeted figures on the same basis for 1983–84.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI refer the hon. Member to two publications produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the library.
- (i) "Capital expenditure and Debt Financing Statistics 1982–83"; which gives provisional estimates of capital payments per head of population in 1982–83 for each local authority in England. Information on capital budgets for 1983–84 is not held centrally.
- (ii) "Finance and General Statistics", 1982–83 and 1983–84 editions; which give budgeted total local rate and grant borne expenditure for 1982–83 and 1983–84 respectively.