HC Deb 27 January 1984 vol 52 cc726-7W
Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total local government spending in England in constant prices from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Waldegrave

Total local government spending, on the same basis as shown in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8789) and deflated by the GDP deflator, from 1979–80 to 1982–83 is estimated as follows:

Local government expenditure in England in cost terms (£ million, 1979–80 prices)
Total* Current Expentiture Capital Expenditure
1979–80 17,700 14,054 3,646
1980–81 17,308 14,349 2,959
1981–82 16,614 14,671 1,943
1982–83 17,106 15,174 1,932
* excluding debt interest and other adjustments

Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage of local authority expenditure in England met by central Government funds each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Waldegrave

Estimates of the proportion of local authority relevant expenditure—at outturn or budget—met by aggregate Exchequer grant are as follows:

Per cent.
England and Wales
1979–80 60.0
1980–81 58.3
England
1981–92* 54.8
1982–83* 51.2
1983–84* 49.9
Figures of grant after holdback taken from latest RSG supplementary reports for each year.
† Relevant expenditure based on revised estimates supplied by local authorities.
‡ Relevant expenditure based on local authority budgets.