§ Dr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total of debt charges charged to revenue account for local authorities in England and Wales for each year from 1980–81 to 1987–88; and what percentage this represents of gross revenue expenditure.
§ Mr. RidleyThe information for local authorities in England and Wales, is as follows:
Rate Fund Revenue Account; debt charges and gross revenue expenditure Debt charges £1 Gross revenue expenditure £ million Debt charges1 Per cent. 1980–81 2,134 25,215 8.5 1981–82 2,268 27,810 8.2 1982–83 2,162 30,197 7.2 1983–84 2,165 32,366 6.7 1984–85 2,443 34,286 7.1 1985–86 2,678 35,105 7.6 21986–87 2,373 37,113 6.4 1 As percentage of gross revenue expenditure. 2 Provisional. The information is not available for 1987–88.
Debt charges are also incurred on housing revenue account and in respect of trading services.