§ 33. Mr. HoltTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the highest, lowest and average increase in spending levels by local authorities over the three years 1988–89 to 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloComparing budgets in 1990–91 with comparable figures in 1988–89 for each local authority gives
the highest increase as 320 per cent. in Labour controlled Southampton; andthe lowest increase as minus 74 per cent. in Conservative controlled Runnymede.The average increase for England as a whole is 20 per cent.