§ Sir F. Macleanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, for the first grant period under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1966, the estimated reckonable expenditure of local authorities in Scotland, the total of local specific grants and the rate support grants and the proportion of the reckonable expenditure which these represent.
§ Mr. RossThe information is as follows:
rents, rates, gas, electricity, fares, clothing and furniture have risen, that the effects of devaluation and the Budget proposals will increase the cost of living by between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent.; and whether she will now propose increase in these benefits particularly to those on retirement pensions.
§ Mrs. HartPrice increases since benefits were raised last October have diminished their value by 2 per cent. I do not understand the basis of my hon. Friend's estimates, and as to further benefit increases, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 4th March.—[OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 760, c.5.]