HC Deb 10 January 1985 vol 70 cc546-7W
Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total expenditure of Scottish local authorities expressed at November 1983 prices for each of the years from 1978–79.

Mr. Ancram

The only local authority expenditure information available at November 1983 prices is expenditure relevant for rate support grant purposes, excluding loan charges. This information is set out in table A. Total local authority expenditure as shown in the 1984 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143). adjusted by means of the GDP deflator to 1983–84 prices, is given in table B. The current expenditure figures in table B are not directly comparable with those given in table A because in the case of table B:

  1. a. they include expenditure not relevant for rate support grant eg housing;
  2. b. they exclude capital expenditure financed from revenue and the interest receipts deduction;
  3. c. the 1984–85 figures are the Government-planned provision, not local authorities' budget estimates (which are above provision);
  4. d. the price base used is different.

TABLE A
Local authority expenditure in Scotland relevant for rate support grant purposes, excluding loan charges
(£ million at November 1983 prices)
£
1978–79 2,684
1979–80 2,716
1980–81 2,757
1981–82 2,719
1982–83 2,709
1983–84 2,742
1984–85 2,753

Notes:

1. The figures for 1978–79 to 1983–84 are final or near final outturns: the figure for 1984–85 is the aggregate of authorities' budget estimates. The figure for 1978–79 has been adjusted to take account of a change in the definition of relevant expenditure as from 1979–80.

2. The figures have been revalued from cash to November 1983 prices using factors agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. All the expenditure figures themselves, other than that for 1983–84, have been agreed with the Convention: the figure for 1983–84 is based on returns only recently received from authorities.

TABLE B
Total local authority expenditure in Scotland
(£ million at 1983–84 prices)
Current Capital Total
1978–79 2,597 905 3,502
1979–80 2,671 896 3,568
1980–81 2,764 747 3,511
1981–82 2,872 688 3,559
1982–83 2,933 652 3,585
1983–84 3,100 680 3,780
1984–85 2,908 664 3,572

Note:

1. The figures for 1978–79 to 1983–84 are based on actual expenditure. The figure for 1984–85 is the Government's planned public expenditure provision.