§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to increase the funds available to local authorities for the maintenance of listed buildings owned by themselves; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 19 November 1992]: Local authority current expenditure is supported by aggregate external finance which, with the exception of specific grants, is not hypothecated to particular services. So far as capital expenditure is concerned, each authority receives annually a block capital consent allocation which it is free to augment by revenue contributions and capital receipts. Within the total levels of support available to them, authorities are free to set their own current and capital expenditure priorities.