§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the information concerning the Exchequer contribution to local government expenditure published in the Official Report on 1 March 1984, Official Report, columns 330–31, in reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe information is as follows:
Aggregate Exchequer grant as a percentage of relevant expenditure (a) (b) England At settlement* At outturn† 1981–82 59.1 54.9 1982–83 56.1 51.7 1983–84 52.8 49.8 1984–85 51.9 49.6 1985–86 48.7 46.8 1986–87 46.4 44.1 * Percentages as given in the rate support grant settlement report. † Aggregate Exchequer grant from latest supplementary report, or, in the case of 1986–87, as given in the rate support grant settlement report. Relevant expenditure from outturn forms returned to the Department, except 1985–86 (local authorities' revised estimates) and 1986–87 (budgets). Outturn percentages between 1981–82 and 1985–86 are affected by holdback of block grant.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he now proposes to accept the recommendation in the Widdicombe report for an immediate increase in the financial limit on spending under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 for metropolitan district and London borough councils; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyI have decided to study whether special provision for local authorities to spend on economic development is desirable or necessary. The proper level of spending authority under section 137 is obviously dependant on decisions taken about economic development. I hope to be able to come to conclusions about this by early in the new year. Meanwhile, I have no plans for interim measures.