§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated level of Government financial support for each local authority, for England and for the United Kingdom in constant prices for(a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97, indicating the percentage yearly change in each case and the overall cumulative 609W change (i) net of community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation and (ii) including community care and where appropriate the estimated cost of local government reorganisation; [8886]
(2) what is the estimated level of Government financial support for each of the new unitary local authorities and for Scotland as a whole in constant prices for (a) 1994–95, (b) 1995–96 and (c) 1996–97, indicating the percentage yearly change in each case and the overall cumulative change (i) net of community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation and (ii) including community care and the estimated cost of local government reorganisation. [8887]
§ Mr. WaldegraveCentral Government support to local authorities comprises:
Table 1: Central Government support to local authorities at 1994–95 prices: United Kingdom Yearly change 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1995–96 per cent. 1996–97 per cent. Cumulative change per cent. Including reorganisation and community care 61,254 60,438 58,725 -1.3 -2.8 -4.1 Excluding reorganisation and community care 59,771 58,239 56,074 -2.6 -3.7 -6.2 Some of these elements are distributed by Departments with responsibilities spanning Great Britain. Not all of these Departments have yet allocated their spending plans for 1996–97 between the countries of the Union. It is therefore not presently possible to break down the United Kingdom figure for support for that year. This information will be included in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", to be published in February.
The table shows the figures which are available.
Table 2: Central Government support to local authorities at 1994–95 prices 1994–95 £ 1995£961 £ Change Per cent. England Including reorganization and community care 50,218 49,074 -2.3 Excluding reorganization and community care 48,939 47,237 -3.5 Scotland Including reorganization and community care 7,292 7,219 -1.0 Excluding reorganization and community care 7,174 7,017 -2.2 1Figures shown in this column are not necessarily consistent with table 1 above, which is based on later information which was not broken down between the countries of the Union. Grants and credit approvals are distributed to local authorities by a number of different Departments. Figures for the total support provided to each authority could therefore only be collated at disproportionate expense. 610W grants within aggregate external finance, which represent central Government's contribution towards the cost of core local authority services such as education and community care. They include revenue support grant, non-domestic rates redistributed to authorities from the national pools and certain grants in respect of specific services;
current specific grants outside AEF, notably in respect of housing benefit and mandatory student awards;
capital grants; and
credit approvals.
Table 6.7 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1996–97" (HC 30) set out the Government's plans for total support to local authorities and their components. The table shows those figures in the form requested, including and excluding Department's latest plans for support in respect of local government reorganisation and the current costs of community care. The capital costs of community care are not separately identified.