§ Mr. Maplesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the net revenue expenditure of Lewisham borough council has been met by the rate support grant in each of the financial years 1978–79 to 1982–83; what will be the figures for 1983–84 472W and 1984–85,based on the authority's latest estimates; and what they will be if the authority spends at current Government target level.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFollowing is the available information on the percentage of Lewisham borough council's revenue expenditure — defined as "total" expenditure for block grant purposes(a)—met by rate support grant:
per cent 1978–79 (b) 129.2 1979–80 (b) 109.3 1980–81 (b) 94.4 1981–82 (b) 73.4 1982–83 (c) 64.6 1983–84 (d) *66.8 †69.3 1984–85 (d) ‡58.9 ║66.7 * on actual budget † if spent at target ‡ on basis of block grant claim ║ if spent at target. The rate support grant system and payment arrangements changed during the period making many inter-year comparisons meaningless.
Notes:
(a) Estimates of "total" expenditure have been constructed for earlier years on a comparable basis from information contained on Lewisham's outturn returns.
(b) In the years 1978–79 to 1981–82, grant allocated in respect of expenditure by London precepting authorities was paid directly to the London boroughs.
(c) In 1982–83, grant allocated in respect of the Metropolitan police authority was paid to the boroughs.
(d) Since 1983–84, London boroughs have received grant only in respect of their own expenditure.