§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the effect of the change in the estimated level of Government financial support for 1996–97, on(a) local government expenditure and (b) local government taxation. [8890]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesMy right hon. Friend's provisional 1996–97 settlement proposals announced on 28 November provide for central Government support for local authority spending—through aggregate external finance—to rise by 2.1 per cent. to £2,517.4 million. This level of support represents 87.8 per cent. of total standard spending, compared with 88.6 per cent. in 1995–96.
Actual council tax levels depend also on local authorities' own budgetary decisions.