§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about(a) the expenditure programmes and (b) the level of central Government funding provided to Perth and Kinross council and Angus council; and if he will make a statement. [34239]
§ Mr. KynochI have received a number of representations about the revenue budgets set by Perth and Kinross and Angus councils and about the level of central Government funding which supports those budgets. On each occasion, I have taken the opportunity to point out that it is for each council to determine its own spending priorities within the total level of resources available to it. I have also drawn attention to the very generous level of Government support for Scottish local authorities.
Perth and Kinross council was able to increase its expenditure by £5.8 million, or 4.60 per cent., over its notional 1995–96 budget figure without breaching its capping limit; Angus council had scope to increase its expenditure by £4.7 million, or 4.47 per cent. In both cases, the increases were before any account was taken of the scope for efficiency savings.
Perth and Kinross council will receive Government support totalling £115.5 million in the current year, which is 20 per cent. more per head of population than the average level of support for English authorities. Angus council will receive support totalling £100.3 million, which is 23 per cent. more than the average English figure.