HC Deb 13 December 1994 vol 251 cc557-8W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to keep the system of local authority funding under review.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

It is already our policy to do so.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase credit approvals and capital grants to local authorities in 1995–96 to maintain current expenditure levels.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

Capital allocations to local authorities in 1995–96 will reflect the Government's general policy on public expenditure control. However, central Government support is only one means through which local authorities can undertake capital expenditure; they can also finance it out of usable capital receipts from the sale of assets, and from revenue. Authorities therefore have some scope to fund higher levels of capital expenditure if they choose to do so.