§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total, nationally, of allowances and expenses paid to councillors in the last available year.
§ Mr. Guy Barnett:The Department does not require local authorities to provide this information.
However, the Robinson committee survey, published last year, showed that in 1975–76 the total cost of councillors' allowances was £ 10.7 million. Travelling and subsistence expenses were excluded from this survey. The last available estimate, provided by the Oakes committee in 1975, suggested a total figure for travelling and subsistence of about £ 2 million in 1974–75.