LORD MIDDLETONasked His Majesty's Government what was the total net debt of all local authorities in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (a) on rate fund services, (b) on trading services, at March 31, 1931, 1932, 1933, and (estimate) 1934?
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VISCOUNT GAGEThe net outstanding loan debt (that is, the gross debt, less the amount standing to the credit of sinking funds for the repayment of debt) of local authorities is given below. It is not practicable to give an estimate of the figures at March 31, 1933, or 1934 (for Scotland, May 15), as loans authorised during a year may, and often will, be raised in a subsequent year. So far as Northern Ireland is concerned, the matter is entirely within the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Government, and the information given has been supplied by the courtesy of that Government.
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ENGLAND AND WALES — March 31, 1931. March 31, 1932. £ £ Rate Fund Services (including Housing and Small Dwellings Acquistion). 779,361,620 820,957,208 Trading Services … 436,016,669 444,738,574
SCOTLAND. — May 15, 1931.* May 15, 1932.* £ £ Rate Fund Services (including Housing and Small Dwellings Acquisition). 91,492,881 98,342,435 Trading Services … 54,090,657 54,202,986
NORTHERN IRELAND — March 31, 1931. March 31, 1932. £ £ Rate Fund Services (including Housing and Small Dwellings Acquisition). 13,214,183 13,601,190 Trading Services … 3,634,641 3,601,190 * In Scotland the financial year ends on May 15. House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past six o'clock.