HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 c492W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total, or actual and in real terms, of total expenditure on local government in 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1988.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Local authority expenditure in the United Kingdom in cash and real terms is as follows:

£ millon cash real1 (1987–88 prices)
1970–71 6,759 37,477
1979–80 24,740 43,438
1984–85 38,730 44,408
1987–88 44,484 44,484

Note:

The 1988–89 figures are not yet available.

1 Using the GDP deflator to convert cash values into constant prices.

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of a local government employee; and if he will break down the average cost into pay, national insurance, superannuation and other costs, respectively.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The available information is as follows:

Cost of full-time equivalent (FTE) posts in local for 1987-881
Average of FTEs (over 4 quarters) Annual cost £ million Average Annual Cost per FTE3 £
1,925,800 223,750 12,300
1 Figures shown are for England and include agency staff.
2 Includes—

gross pay, together with payments and allowances, compensation for loss of office and redundancy payments;

employers share of national insurance contributions;

contributions to superannuation funds and beneficiaries under pension schemes—eg. police and firemen;

payments made to staff which are later reimbursed by central Government, MSC etc.

but excludes—

payments for training expenses, removal expenses etc;

transfer values on superannuation funds;

allowances paid to councilors.

3 A breakdown of the costs is not available.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet Nottingham city council in the near future to discuss local government finance for the area.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has published his proposals for the 1989–90 rate support grant settlement on 11 November 1988. Any representations from Nottingham city council will be taken into account and any request for a meeting will be considered.

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