asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to limit public expenditure by local authorities.

I am withholding loan sanctions and grant approvals for some key sector expenditure and have reduced the previously contemplated allocations for the locally determined sector for 1974–75. I have also reduced the estimate of relevant expenditure for that year acceptable for rate support grant, as compared with that anticipated prior to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December 1973.