asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the cost of central Government finance given to the London borough of Islington from all sources in 1979–80, 1983–84 and proposed for 1987–88 at constant 1979–80 prices, and as a proportion of the council's total spending.

The information readily available covers rate support grant, housing subsidies, housing benefit, specific revenue grants and capital grants. Because of changes to the grant system, however, the figures are not on a comparable basis each year.The figures are, at 1979–80 prices

	£ million
1979–80	81
1983–84	72
1986–87	81

(no information is available for 1987–88).The proportions these amounts represent of Islington's total gross spending are 47 per cent. in 1979–80 and 44 per cent. in 1983–84. (No figures of gross spending are yet available for 1986–87).