§ Mr. HeddleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on English local authorities' expenditure plans for 1988–89; and what amount of block grant he estimates will be payable to them.
§ Mr. RidleyOn the basis of information received by 21 March, English local authorities are budgeting for an aggregate total expenditure in 1988–89 of about £27,610 million, compared with £26,569 million provided for in the RSG settlement. On this basis, the amount of block grant payable will be £8,955 million, £516 million less than provided in the settlement.