§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what level of support for Welsh local authority revenue spending he proposes to provide through aggregate external finance for 1996–97. [3913]
§ Mr. HagueOn 28 November,Official Report, column 600, I announced that I propose to set total standard spending in Wales for 1996–97 at £2,867.3 million; and central Government support for that level of spending through aggregate external fiance at £2,517.4 million.
Within aggregate external finance, I propose to make available £1,792 million in revenue support grant; £459 million in distributable non-domestic rates; £237.4 million in specific grants; and £29 million to damp council tax increases arising from the disaggregation of the county and district councils' 1995–96 standard spending assessments and budgets to unitary authorities. The threshold for damping wiH be set at 0 per cent.
858WMy Department has today written to the Welsh local authority associations to consult them on my proposals for revenue support grant in 1996–97.
Copies of the consultation letter will be placed in the Library of the House.