§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the value of rate support grant allocated to Scottish local authorities in each year since 1980; and if he will express these figures at actual and at constant prices.
§ Mr. AncramRate support grant paid to Scottish local authorities for each local authority financial year from 1980–81 to 1983–84 and in the course of payment for 1984–85 is as follows:
240W
Year £ million 1980–81 1,451.00 1981–82 1,512.30 1982–83 1,633.10 1983–84 1,697.75 1984–85 1,713.20 The figures for the years 1980–81 to 1982–83 are final; those for 1983–84 and 1984–85 may be varied.
Grant is not expressed at constant prices as relevant expenditure includes loan charges, a variable item, and as provision for local authority expenditure and grant has since 1982–83 been expressed in cash terms.
§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to incorporate substantial 241W seasonal fluctuations in population as a factor to be included in assessment of need for local authority rate support grant purposes.
§ Mr. AncramI am aware of the concern of some local authorities, including North-East Fife district council, about the possible effects on their expenditure of population fluctuations caused by tourism. This is one of the matters being examined by officials considering the client group assessments of expenditure need which will underlie the distribution of rate support grant in 1985–86.