§ Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the latest figures for local government expenditure categorised by English region.
§ Mr. KingThe table below shows the provisional outturn of net "current" expenditure in 1980–81 by region.
Region Net "current" expenditure 1980–81* (provisional) £ million (outturn prices) South-East 6,249 South-West 1,244 East Anglia 525 West Midlands 1,662 East Midlands 1,133 North-West 2,313 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,654 Northern 1,105 All England 15,885 * As defined for volume targets. This expenditure definition is equivalent to RSG net current expenditure plus uncapitalised capital expenditure met direct from revenue, plus a small element of non-relevant expenditure on police services.
§ Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will discount reasonable additional expenditure on Industrial promotion by local authorities in areas, such as Rossendale and the remainder of East Lancashire, with high unemployment, in calculating any penalties to be imposed on them for overspending.
§ Mr. KingLocal authorities' targets for 1982–83 take account of existing levels of spending on industrial promotion. It is for local authorities to determine expenditure priorities within their overall targets.