§ Mr. Longdenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to have published, soon after the end of each financial year, the amounts by which local authorities have exceeded their estimates of expenditure for that year, together with the reasons for such overspending under each heading.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonI have been asked to reply.
No. My right hon. Friend would be reluctant to add to the statistical burdens of local authorities in this way, without the prospect of proportionate benefit from the results.