HC Deb 24 February 1993 vol 219 c631W
30. Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have increased their indebtedness in the last 10 years.

Mr. Robin Squire

A total of 249 local authorities are known to have increased their external debt between March 1982 and March 1992. This represents 69 per cent. of authorities for whom figures are available; data are unavailable for 40 authorities.