§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will up-date for the latest available year the table published in the Official Report, 29th November 1976, column 48, of identifiable expenditure per head by programme in Scotland compared with England;
(2) if he will update for the latest available year the table, published in the Official Report, 5th February 1976, column 709, of identifiable expenditure per head in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettI would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts) on 18th November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 350–2]—and to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Mr. Carmichael) on 25th November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 956–8]. The figures given in these answers reflect the new presentation of public expenditure introduced in 1977 in the public expenditure White Paper Cmnd. 6721. Figures of total identifiable public expenditure per head in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern 683W Ireland since 1972–73 on that basis were given in an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Mr. Woof) on 24th November 1977—[Vol. 939, c. 852]. I regret that figures for 1977–78, and revised figures for 1976–77, are not yet available.