HC Deb 18 April 1991 vol 189 cc239-41W
18. Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of local government expenditure in England he anticipates will be met from central Government in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95 and (e) 1995–96.

Mr. Mellor

For 1991–92, around 83 per cent. of budgeted current expenditure. As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget statement, local taxation is now at a level that the Government believe should be sustainable in the longer term. Much depends however on the level of local authority expenditure in future years.

27. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the percentage of local government expenditure paid for by central Government in 1991–92; what it was in 1986–87 and 1981–82; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

Central Government support for local authorities in 1991–92 will account for around 83 per cent. of current expenditure in England, compared with 78 per cent. in 1986–87 and 81 per cent. in 1981–82. For consistency, the figures for past years include income from non-domestic rates.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report an analysis for the years 1984–85 to 1993–94, using the territories and economic categories of table 5.7 of Cm. 1520, of changes between total local authority expenditure (a) between table 21.4.11. of Cm. 1021 and table 5.11 of Cm. 1520 and (b) between table 5.11 of Cm. 1021 and the "Financial Report and Budget Statement" 1991–92.

Mr. Mellor

Information on differences between the figures for local authority expenditure given in the 1990 public expenditure White Paper—Cm. 1021—and the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—for the years up to 1989–90 are given in the table. They are on the same basis as the information on differences from Cm. 1021 presented in the supplement, that is, they exclude differences arising from changes in the way expenditure is recorded—classification changes—or from transfers between Departments or sectors, for example, switching responsibility for expenditure from central Government to local authorities. Corresponding analyses for 1990–91 and future years and on differences between the supplement and the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are not available.

1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
Lending and other financial transactions 4 9 8 -2 -74
Total 6 50 57 192 1,498
Scotland
Pay -11 -14
Other current expenditure on goods and services -7
Subsidies -5 -3
Current grants to persons -4 -6
Net capital expenditure on assets 1 -24 -7
Capital grants 7 -1
Lending and other financial transactions 9 -4
Total 1 -35 -34
Wales
Pay 12 81
Other current expenditure on goods and services 25
Subsidies -12 -12
Current grants to persons 3 7 3 11 9
Net capital expenditure on assets -1 4 57
Capital grants 3
Lending and other financial transactions 1 4 -2
Total 3 7 3 44 136
Great Britain
Pay 64 86 225 94 689
Other current expenditure on goods and services - 106 -100 -127 -197
Current grants to persons 41 63 -48 57 26
Net capital expenditure on assets 4 -22 -13 180 892
Capital grants 1 21 16 85 110
Lending and other financial transactions 5 9 8 11 -80
Total 10 57 61 201 1,600
Northern Ireland
Pay 6
Other current expenditure on goods and services
Subsidies
Current grants to persons
Net capital expenditure on assets -1
Capital grants
Lending and other financial transactions
Total 6
United Kingdom
Pay 64 86 225 94 695
Other current expenditure on goods and services -106 -100 -127 -197
Subsidies -29 -38
Current grants to persons 41 63 -48 57 26
Net capital expenditure on assets 4 -22 -13 180 891
Capital grants 1 21 16 85 111
Lending and other financial transactions 5 9 8 11 -80
Total 10 57 61 201 1,605
1 The differences shown are differences after adjustments for changes of classification and switches between departments and spending sectors.

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