HC Deb 18 July 1973 vol 860 cc132-3W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total amount paid to the city of Manchester in rate support grant in 1972–73, and in each of the preceding seven years;

(2) what percentage of Manchester Corporation's total expenditure was met by moneys received from central Government in 1972–73 and in each of the preceding seven years; and how the percentage compared in each of these years with the average for all local authorities in England and Wales.

Mr. Graham Page

The amount of rate support grant paid to Manchester County Borough Council and the percentage of rate and grant-borne revenue expenditure met by Government grants including housing subsidies in the county borough and in all local authorities in England and Wales were as follows:

Percentage of expenditure met by grants
Rate Support Grant or the equivalent grant £ In Manchester Per cent. In England and Wales Per cent.
1965–66 12, 915,000 46.5 54.1
1966–67 13, 687,000 47.3 54.5
1967–68 15, 008,000 48.9 55.1
1968–69 15, 314,000 45.4 55.5
1969–70 18, 016,000 49.1 57.7
1970–71 21, 349,000 51.4 59.2
1971–72 22, 574,000 51.5 59.3
1972–73 25, 941,000 n.a. n.a.

The percentages for 1968–69 and onwards are not wholly comparable with those for earlier years because the police grant was no longer payable to the county borough council from 1st April, 1968, when responsibility for the police service was transferred to the Manchester and Salford Police Authority. Capital grants represented the following proportions of capital expenditure:

In Manchester Per cent. In England and Wales Per cent.
1965–66 6.0 2.6
1966–67 3.1 3.1
1967–68 4.3 4.7
1968–69 2.5 5.1
1969–70 2.9 5.7
1970–71 2.7 5.7
1971–72 2.3 5.7

Details of revenue and capital expenditure for 1972–73 are not yet available.