HC Deb 20 March 1986 vol 94 c252W
Dr. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environement if he will publish the total of local authority expenditure (a) gross and (b) net on (i) education, (ii) housing, (iii) environmental services, (iv) law, order and protective services, (v) roads and transport, (vi) social services and (vii) other in each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86 or the most recent available year, showing total expenditure, current expenditure and capital expenditure separately.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

The information is published in "Local Government Financial Statistics England and Wales" for the years 1979–80 to 1982–83 inclusive. (Copies of which are available in the Library.) 1983–84 information will be published shortly and information for 1984–85 is expected to be published in summer 1986. Information for 1985–86 is available on a net expenditure basis only from local authorities's budgets.

Mr. Powley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to vary local authorities' spending capacity under section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend has had a number of representations from local authority associations, individual authorities and other concerned bodies for an increase in section 137 limits. The Government consider, however, that it would not be appropriate to increase the 2p limit currently applying before the Widdicombe inquiry reports. The inquiry has been asked specifically to clarify the limits and conditions governing discretionary spending by local authorities, including section 137 spending.

The Government do, however, accept that some Local authorities would, unless action was taken, face a reduction in their section 137 spending capacity for 1986–87 as an indirect consequence of the rate support grant settlement for that year. For this reason my right hon. Friend will shortly be consulting local government about proposals to ensure that section 137 limits for 1986–87 are maintained at the level applying in 1985–86. This will help many of the hardest pressed authorities, including many in metropolitan areas.