§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the consultation procedures of the road construction units at his Department do not lead to excessive delays.
§ Dr. GilbertAny elaboration of the procedures for public consultation will tend to delay the proposals to which the consultation relates. My right hon. Friend's policy is to keep the opposing considerations in proper balance.
Outstanding loan debt at end of financial year 1974–75 As an amount Per capita of population Per domestic hereditament Comparable population in 1955 and 1960 As per capita of population As per domestic hereditament 1955 1960 1955 1960 £ million £ £ £ £ £ £ Local authorities in: England* … 19,534 421 1,218 85 123 300§ 425 Wales* … 1,088 393 1,130 Scotland† … 3,156 606 1,697 103 152 342 488 Total of above‡ 23,778 437 1,260 87 126 310§ 432 Sources: Local Government Financial Statistics, England and Wales. Local Financial Returns, Scotland. * Provisional estimate for 31st March 1975, excluding debt administered by local authorities an respect of transferred assets. † Provisional estimate for 15th May 1975 The figure reflects the situation prior in the reorganisation of local government in Scotland. ‡ The distribution of responsibilities between individual local authorities and central organisations in Northern Ireland is now significantly different from the rest of the United Kingdom, especially in respect of housing, and the relatively small amount of debt held by local authorities in Northern Ireland—28 million in 1974—cannot be compared meaningfully with that held by local authorities in the rest of the United Kingdom. § Very approximate estimates.