HC Deb 24 July 1997 vol 298 cc714-5W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July,Official Report, columns 179–80, if he will list the information requested taking account of the changes in the composition of the Scottish block and the price bases to deflate the figures to 1996–97 prices; if he will list the total expenditure over the period at 1996–97 prices; and what this expenditure would have been had no changes been made to the formula. [7805]

Mr. Darling

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: Table 1.3 of the "Scottish Departmental Report" (Cm 3614) details the Scottish block in cash terms. The relevant figures at 1996–97 prices for the period 1991–92 to 1997–98 are shown in the table:

£ million
1991–92 Outturn 13,086
1992–93 Outturn 13,546
1993–94 Outturn 13,970
1994–95 Outturn 14,317
1995–96 Outturn 14,117
1996–97 Forecast 14,015
1997–98 Plans 13,322

Most of the reduction in the final year of this series is accounted for by water debt commutation and by the proposed sales of the student loans book and the Scottish Homes loan book.

Tables 1.2 and 1.3 of "Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses" gives the total expenditure within the control total, by Department form years 1991–92 by Department in cash and real terms (1995–96) respectively. Tables 5.2 and 5.3 detail central Government expenditure within the control total by Department for the period from 1978–79 in cash and real-terms (1995–96 prices) respectively.

Additional information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.