§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the joint discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities aimed at establishing the real change in local authority expenditure since 1978.
§ Mr. AncramFigures for local authority expenditure since 1978–79 have been agreed between the Scottish Office and the Convention. The figures showed that local authorities are budgeting to spend in total current expenditure in 1984–85 2.6 per cent. more (at November 1983 prices) and 12 per cent. more (in cost terms) than they spent in 1978–79.