asked the Minister for the Environment when he will confirm to each local authority the full amount of financial support which they will receive for the provision of services in 1987; and the amount of moneys they will receive for current account expenditure in 1987.

Local authorities have been notified of their allocations for road grants, local improvements scheme, the grant in relief of domestic rates, the grant in lieu of rates on agricultural land and house purchase and improvement loans. I intend to notify the authorities of their other capital allocations as early as possible. The allocations to each local authority for current expenditure are in the form of a tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Report.

My Department's estimates include other grants and subsidies amounting to £297 million which are paid to local authorities on a recoupment basis at various times throughout the year. Following is the statement:

May I ask the Minister two questions? First, when will the balance of the money due to the local authorities be notified to them? Second, what is the approximate total sum involved?

The total Exchequer grants and subsidies for 1987 are expected to reach about £800 million, £40 million or 5 per cent more than the 1986 outturn. Most of the allocations have been notified and I should like to think I could clear the rest in the very near future.