§ Mr. David Priceasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total commitment to public expenditure on current account by central Government and local government, respectively, for 1974–75; and how much of that expenditure is upon the payment of wages, salaries, and dependent staff charges and upon transfer payments to individual citizens, respectively.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe information is as follows:
ESTIMATE1 OF EXPENDITURE ON CURRENT ACCOUNT, 1974–75 £ million Central Government 21,6082 Local authorities 8,2273 of which: Central Government Local authorities Wages and salaries4 5,2555 4,8993 Current grants to per-sons 7,068 548 1 Based on Table 6 of Financial Statement and Budget Report. 2 Includes 66 announced since the Budget. 3 Includes 12 announced since the Budget. 4 Does not include 580 for central Government and 2 for local authorities classified as "current grants to non-profit making bodies". These amounts are transfers mainly to universities for payment of wages and salaries and other running costs. 5 Includes 18 announced since the Budget