§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what has been the total level of (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure incurred by Welsh local authorities for each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available;
(2) what is the total volume of local government spending in Wales expressed in constant prices for each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe information is as follows:
proportions of local government relevant expenditure in Wales met by aggregate exchequer grant since 1981–82 are shown in the table following:
Year Aggregate exchequer grant as a percentage of relevant expenditure 1981–82 70.8* 1982–83 70.8† 1983–84 68.6‡ 1984–85 69.2║ * The Welsh Rate Support Grant Supplementary (No. 3) Report 1981–82.
435W† The Welsh Rate Support Grant Report 1982 (Supplementary) 1982.
‡ The Welsh Rate Support Grant Supplementary Report 1983–84.
║ Based on Secretary of State for Wales' Statement to the House, 20 December 1983.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales by what percentage he expects the total of Welsh local government spending to differ, in real terms, in 1984–85 from 1979–80.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsProvision for local authority current and capital expenditure in Wales in 1984–85 is approximately 3 per cent. lower in cost terms than actual spending in 1979–80. The figures have been adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator, and take into account the reductions in the national insurance surcharge payable by local authority employers in 1982–83 and 1983–84, and the transfer of certain housing benefit responsibilities from central to local government in 1983–84.