HC Deb 16 July 1958 vol 591 cc108-9W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what percentage of the national income was spent by the local authorities in 1929, 1935, 1946, 1950, 1956, and on the latest available date; and what, for the same years, was their expenditure, expressed as a percentage of the national income, on education, housing and roads.

Mr. Simon

Figures are not available for all the years mentioned, but such information as is available is given in the following table:

EXPENDITURE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL INCOME
1938(2) 1946 1950 1956 1957(3)
Total(1) 11.6 9.0 10.4 10.9 11.2
Education and child care 2.6 3.3 4.0
Housing 1.3 2.6 2.0
Roads and public lighting 0.8 0.8 0.9
(1) Total expenditure on current and capital account combined, including expenditure out of central Government grants.
(2) Details for 1938 are not available.
(3) Details for 1957 are not yet available.