§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount and percentage of total public expenditure in the current financial year which will be accounted for by local authorities.
§ Mr. BrittanIn 1982–83, £28.3 billion (24½ per cent.) of the total planned expenditure of £114.7 billion was 341W accounted for by local authorities. But local authorities have budgeted to spend £1½ billion above the planned provision for current expenditure, while returns from the local authorities have suggested capital underspending of £1¼ to £1½ billion. Since then additional allocations for capital spending of about £200 million have been issued and authorities have been told they can spend without limit on housing improvement grants.