asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a further statement on the value for money achieved in public expenditure by local and central Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the value for money achieved in public expenditure by local and central Government.

We must continue to get better value for taxpayers' and ratepayers' money. The public expenditure White Paper illustrated the substantial savings made so far through better management and efficiency in Government Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of planned public expenditure accounted for by local authorities in the year 1987–88.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of planned public expenditure accounted for by local authorities in the year 1987–88.

The planned amount for public expenditure by local authorities in 1987–88 in Great Britain is £39,520 million. This is shown in Table 4.1 of the Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmd. 56). It is 3·9 per cent. more than the estimated outturn for 1986–87 given in the White Paper and 4·6 per cent. more than the latest estimate of outturn for 1986–87.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further correspondence he has had with political parties about proposals for increased public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has had any further correspondence with political parties on proposals for increases in public expenditure.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of public expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of public expenditure.

None directly. But there has been a number of comments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure improved value for money in public sector expenditure.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey, South-West (Mrs. Bottomley).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the amount of public expenditure accounted for by local authorities in the current financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of the amount of planned public expenditure accounted for by local authorities in the current financial year.

The current estimate for total public expenditure in 1986–87 by local authorities in Great Britain is £37·8 billion. This is an increase of 9 per cent. upon 1985–86 but a slight reduction from the estimate given in Table 4.1 of the Government's Public Expenditure White Paper as estimates of capital receipts have been increased.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further correspondence he has had with political parties about proposed increases in public expenditure.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townend) earlier today.