§ Mr. Raisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to the Exchequer and the total increase in local government staff levels since March 1974 as a result of the requirements of new legislation and departmental circulars initiated by his Department since that date.
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§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that the information is not available and could not be obtained even approximately without considerable expenditure of staff time. We are, however, fully conscious of the need to exercise restraint in placing new requirements on local authorities in a time of severe restraint in the growth of public expenditure.