§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the percentage rate rise, at ratepayer level, between (a) 1981–82 and 1986–87, (b) 1982–83 and 1986–87 and (c) 1985–86 and 1986–87 in
Shire counties' precepts and net current expenditure in 1985–86 and 1986–87 Current expenditure* 1985–86 Precept (p) 1986–87 Precept (p) Percentage increase in precept 1985–86 (£ million) 1986–87 (£ million) Percentage increase in current expenditure Avon 190.60 224.70 17.9 355.166 385.707 8.6 Bedfordshire 161.10 191.40 18.8 199.842 211.265 5.7 Berkshire 150.80 170.20 12.9 258.891 266.330 2.9 Buckinghamshire 147.50 191.80 30.0 224.157 246.017 9.8 Cambridgeshire 146.00 194.00 32.9 217.434 239.842 10.3 Cheshire 178.00 193.45 8.7 370.437 409.043 10.4 Cleveland 210.00 235.00 11.9 255.629 277.893 8.7 Cornwall 143.50 169.80 18.3 153.468 165.630 7.9 Cumbria 176.00 240.00 36.4 190.930 206.875 8.4 Derbyshire 185.00 233.00 25.9 361.866 397.136 9.7 Devon 146.75 175.75 19.8 338.423 368.015 8.7 Dorset 149.00 172.00 15.4 201.167 220.268 9.5 Durham 168.00 197.00 17.3 234.707 251.406 7.1 East Sussex 147.30 176.60 19.9 212.384 230.214 8.4 Essex 151.50 180.00 18.8 529.803 576.274 8.8 Gloucestershire 152.40 180.02 18.1 176.086 195.520 11.0 Hampshire 147.50 169.00 14.6 507.285 551.872 8.8 Hereford and Worcester 146.50 162.50 10.9 227.099 242.643 6.8 Hertfordshire 157.70 192.30 21.9 342.569 380.205 11.0 Humberside 171.00 196.00 14.6 356.808 384.084 7.6 Isle of Wight 157.00 188.39 20.0 42.977 47.148 9.7 Kent 144.59 162.97 12.7 503.690 539.279 7.1 Lancashire 158.50 184.00 16.1 544.793 595.651 9.3 Leicestershire 149.50 189.80 27.0 338.917 360.123 6.3 Lincolnshire 143.50 175.00 22.0 200.967 214.551 6.8 Norfolk 143.00 170.20 19.0 234.956 255.815 8.9 Northamptonshire 153.00 172.10 12.5 205.062 226.518 10.5 Northumberland 175.00 212.96 21.7 — 115.589 — North Yorkshire 151.00 175.00 15.9 252.833 271.531 7.4 Nottinghamshire 186.00 219.00 17.7 407.855 422.161 3.5 Oxfordshire 151.00 188.50 24.8 181.738 196.003 7.8 Shropshire 143.00 171.00 19.6 142.366 156.779 10.1 Somerset 147.00 186.00 26.5 156.791 176.249 12.4 Staffordshire 169.00 185.50 9.8 371.843 388.253 4.4 Suffolk 150.00 176.50 17.7 206.165 224.898 9.1 Surrey 152.50 170.80 12.0 330.123 348.988 5.7 Warwickshire 151.60 181.70 19.9 175.186 189.114 8.0 West Sussex 141.00 168.00 19.1 215.202 234.034 8.8 Wiltshire 147.00 185.00 25.9 189.659 208.970 10.2 * Current expenditure figures are taken from counties' budget returns. The 1985–86 figures are revised estimates. † The 1986–87 precept for Northumberland includes the Northumbria police authority precept. Due to abolition, Northumberland's 1985–86 current expenditure figure is not comparable with 1986–87.