§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give separately, for England, for Wales and for Scotland, the percentage figure for the rate of Exchequer grant, actual or estimated, on local government relevant expenditure for each of the three years 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe percentages1 are as follows:
England and Wales 1975–76 … … … 66½ 1976–77 … … … 65½ 1977–78 … … … 61 Scotland 1975–76 … … … 75 1976–77 … … … 72½2 1977–78 … … … 68½ A single rate support grant settlement is made for England and Wales and separate figures for Wales are not available.
1Aggregate Exchequer grant as a percentage of accepted relevant expenditure in the main rate support grant orders which are made in terms of the prices in the November preceding the year in question. To the extent that grant is now subject to a cash limit on increase orders—and in 1976–77 was reduced by £50 million in England and
Percentage Food Import Prices Fuel Import Prices Basic Materials Import Prices Hourly Wage Rates Earnings 1974 … … … 42 66 48 66 56 1975 … … … 26 45 43 28 24 1976 … … … 12 10 19 7 6
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing on the basis of 1970=100 for each month since January 1975 the index of hourly wage rates, average weekly earnings and unit labour costs in manufacturing industry, import and export prices for manufactures, and the wholesale prices for manufactures, less food, &c.
744WWales and £5 million in Scotland—and that authorities may spend above the accepted level of expenditure the actual percentage which grant bears to outturn expenditure will differ from that specified in the main order.
2The definition of relevant expenditure in Scotland was changed in 1976.77. The grant percentage of 72½ per cent. is equivalent to 74 per cent. on the previous narrower definition.