HC Deb 25 April 1967 vol 745 c245W
65. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the rateborne cost of teachers salaries for the year 1966–67; and what is the estimated cost for the year 1967–68.

Mr. MacColl

The total expenditure on teachers' salaries by local authorities in England and Wales is estimated at £605 million for 1966–67 and £627 million for 1967–68. Exchequer assistance towards local education expenditure is not given by way of specific grant and it is not therefore possible to give corresponding figures for the net cost borne by ratepayers. But in 1966–67 the general and rate-deficiency grants between them met about 60 per cent. of the cost of the services in respect of which general grant was payable, of which education was the largest; and under the new arrangements which came into force this year the total of Exchequer assistance to local authorities in 1967–68 is likely to be about £40 million more than it would have been under the old system.