§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of total Government expenditure in England was met by domestic ratepayers in 1978–79; what proportion of such expenditure was met by domestic council tax payers in(a) 1995–96 and (b) the current financial year; and what proportion will be so met in the next financial year. [7116]
§ Sir Paul Beresford[holding answer 3 December 1996]The requested information is available from 1981–82. Figures for the proportion provided by domestic householders are gross of rebate or benefit. The figure for 1997–98 is based on the provisional settlement, assuming that council tax is set at the council tax for standard spending. Local authorities' budgeted expenditure and actual council taxes will not be known until they have set their budgets.
Domestic rates/council tax as a proportion of local government expenditure1 (Per cent.) 1981–82 21.6 1995–96 (provisional outturn) 21.4 1996–97 (budget estimates) 22.1 1997–98 (provisional Settlement) 21.3 1Gross of domestic rate rebates for the year 1981–82. Gross of council tax benefit grant and council tax transitional relief scheme grant for 1995–96 and 1996–97. Gross of council tax benefit grant for 1997–98.