HC Deb 08 December 1982 vol 33 c553W
44. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what proportion he expects current expenditure by local authorities to increase in 1983–84.

Mr. King

In my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 27 July, he announced a proposed total of £19.5 billion for current expenditure in 1983–84 by English local authorities. That is an increase of about 9 per cent. over the public expenditure provision for 1982–83, and of about 2 per cent. over total current expenditure in authorities' budgets for 1982–83.

Mr. Squire

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to ensure that local authorities will use their full capital expenditure allocations in the current financial year.

Mr. Heseltine

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) and to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mr. Dobson).