HC Deb 30 November 1984 vol 68 cc601-3W
Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average amount, in cash and percentage terms, by which district councils in Wales will under or overspend their capital spending estimates for 1984–85 at present rates of spending.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

District council's most recent forecast of gross capital expenditure counting against the national cash limit is £16.3 million (6.0 per cent.) below the budget figures submitted in April 1984. This represents an average of £440,000 per district. It is likely that the final expenditure figure for 1984–85 will be lower because of the slippage normally associated with capital programmes.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated capital spending budget for Rhymney Valley district council for 1984–85; by what amounts in cash and percentage terms, respectively, the budget is under or over spending limits; and how Rhymney Valley's under or over-spend compares with equivalent figures for the national cash limits for capital spending in Wales for 1984–85.

Mr. John Stradling Thomas

Rhymney Valley's budgeted prescribed capital expenditure for 1984–85, as reported in April 1984, was £5.5 million. The authority's legal spending limit is broadly equal to the sum of its capital allocation and the prescribed proportion of capital receipts accruing in 1984–85 or available receipts accumulated in earlier years. This is estimated to be £8.2 million. The budget was, therefore, £2.7 million, or 33 per cent., below the spending limit.

The comparison of expenditure with the national cash limit for Wales is not the same as that for individual authorities. The national cash limit is based on gross expenditure for the year less receipts accruing in the year and takes no account of receipts accumulated in earlier years. In 1984–85 the local authority cash limit for Wales is £237 million. Local authorities budgeted net capital expenditure was £325 million, which is £88 million, or 37 per cent. above the national cash limit.

Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total estimated spending on housing improvement grants by district councils in Wales for 1984–85; and how this compares with the total for 1983–84 in real and cost terms.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The latest local authority forecast of expenditure on housing improvement grants in Wales in 1984–85 is £81.7 million. This compares with £109.3 million in 1983–84 (£114.5 million in 1984–85 prices).