§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about local authority current expenditure in Scotland in the next financial year.
§ Mr. MillanDuring the negotiations on the rate support grant for 1978–79 I was able to congratulate local authorities on the efforts they had made to contain their budgets for 1977–78 within the expenditure guidelines which I had provided. I explained in discussions with the Convention and subsequently in a circular to all local authorities that the Government's economic strategy requires continuing142W close control of public expenditure by local authorities in 1978–79. I ask that they will seek to avoid any excess over the total provision for such expenditure which is reflected in the individual guidelines given to each authority. It is particularly important that revaluation is not regarded as providing an opportunity for increased expenditure.