§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the cost to the central revenue of the national Government meeting the full costs of the welfare services.
§ Dr. OwenOn the assumption that "welfare services" is intended to mean the personal social services, the total expenditure on these services by local50W authorities in 1974–75 is currently estimated at £428 million. This expenditure is assisted from central Government funds by rate support grant, which for 1974–75 is at a rate of 60.5 per cent. of relevant expenditure nationally.