§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount of rate support grant being paid by Welsh local authorities in the current financial year; and how much less this is than the total it is proposed to pay to the same authorities in the year 1974–75.
§ Mr. Graham PageI have been asked to reply.
The total rate support grant for 1973–74 payable to local authorities in Wales 214W under the Rate Support Grant (Increase) (No. 2) Order is estimated at £227 million. For 1974–75 the total amount of grant is provisionally estimated at about £214 million, at November 1973 prices, but the final figure will depend on the distribution of resources element, which depends on authorities' rate calls; and on the domestic element, details of which have not yet been calculated, as well as on future increase orders. The reduction in grant reflects the reduction in expenditure due to the transfer from local authorities of responsibility for school health and local health services and the payment of 90 per cent. specific grants for mandatory student awards. This will reduce the expenditure of Welsh authorities by some 7½ per cent.