HC Deb 08 February 1984 vol 53 cc660-1W
Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the percentage change in volume terms in the expenditure on each main service provided by local government between 1978–79 and 1983–84 in a form consistent with paragraph 1.27 of Cmnd. 9008.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Provisional estimates of the percentage change in the volume of current expenditure by local authorities in England, between 1978–79 outturn and 1983–84 budgets, are as follows:

Per cent.
Education 0
School meals and milk -33
Libraries etc. +1
Personal social services + 12
Police +17
Fire +2
Other Home Office services +25
Transport +14
Other rate fund services +3
Net current expenditure +4

Local authorities' own allowances for pay and price changes in 1983–84, available to my Department, refer only to current expenditure in aggregate. Detailed information is therefore not available with which to make more than preliminary estimates of changes in the volume of expenditure on individual services.

Mr. Straw

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 22 December to the hon. Member for Blackburn Official Report, c. 351, whether he will deposit in the Library his letter of 31 January and its attachments giving details of local authorities' capital and current expenditure since 1978–79.

Mr. Waldegrave

Copies of this letter and the tables were placed in the Library on 1 February 1984.