HC Deb 20 January 1999 vol 323 cc478-9W
Mr. Watts

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what were the percentage changes in the share of the allocation of identifiable general expenditure per head between the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the last 10 years; [65589]

(2) what were the percentage changes in allocation of identifiable general expenditure per head between the English regions over the last 10 years. [65590]

Mr. Milburn

Tables containing a breakdown by region of General Government Expenditure (GGE) per capita have been published annually with effect from 1987–88. Figures for 1987–88 to 1990–91 are available in the Appendices of theStatistical Supplement to the Autumn Statement of 1990 to 1992; figures for 1991–92 to 1993–94 in Chapter 7 of Public Expenditure: Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1994–95 to 1996–97; and for 1994–95 to 1995–96 in Chapter 7 of the last two editions of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA). A regional breakdown for 1996–97 will be published in PESA 1999–2000. Figures for GGE per capita in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland appear in the same Chapters as the regional figures, and figures for 1996–97 can be found in PESA 1998–99 (Cm 3901), which was published in April last year.

Identifiable expenditure in England cannot be fully apportioned between the English regions and it is therefore not possible to compare directly spending in the English regions with spending in England as a whole, or with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Changes in methodology mean that figures may not be directly comparable across different years.