§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the
Population Total Rate Support Grant Financial year 000's(1) Annual percentage change £000's (at 1968 prices) (2) Annual percentage change 1968–69 … … 317.0 — 14,548 — 1969–70 … … 316.3 -0.22 15,471 +6.3 1970–71 … … 316.1 -0.06 16, +3.8 1971–72 … … 313.8 -0.72 16,430 +2.3 1972–73 … … 314.9 +0.35 17,352 +5.6 1973–74 … … 317.6 +0.85 19,486 +12.3 1974–75 … … 320.7 +0.97 22,412 +15.0 1975–76 … … 323.3 +0.81 22,911 +2.2 1976–77 … … 324.2 +0.27 21,187 -7.5 1977–78 … … 324.8 +0.18 19,539 -7.8 Notes: (1)Mid-year estimates by Office of Popula tion Census and Surveys. Figures for 1978 are not yet available. (2) The figures of grant are shown on a common 1968 price level, derived by using the gross domestic product deflator. Final grant totals for 1978–79 are not yet available. (3) Data prior to 1974–75 are those for the pre reorganisation Counties of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. The amount of rate support grant to Dyfed increased by about 34 per cent, in real terms between the grant years 1968–69 and 1977–78. During the same period, the population of Dyfed increased by 2.4 per cent.