BRITAIN’S EXPENDITURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1937, Page 9

BRITAIN’S EXPENDITURE

DEPARTMENTAL ESTIMATES. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, February 25. i • The civil estimates and the esti-, mates for the revenue departments, including pensions, education, insurance and other grants, and the Exchequer contributions to local revemies, have been issued for the coming financial year,. The total estimate is £494,275,2b5, compared with a. net estimate last year of £461,694,773. The principal totals, compared with the previous year, are: — 1937 1936 £ £ Foreign Office 139,956 179,746 Post Office 72,328,000 82,492,300 Unemployed Assistance Board 51,260,000 47,000,000 Old Age Pensions 45,319,000 44.321.000 Board of Education 49,361,959 45.065.726

Ministry of Pen-c-ions 40.300,000 41,400,000 Exchequer contributions to local revenues: — England and Wales, £47.502,000 ( £39,499,947). Scotland £6,890,000 (£5.699,480). Ministry for Labour £23,838,000 (£21,628,150). The road fund in previous years was financed by issues from the consolidated fund. This policy has been classified in the present estimates; £15,500,000 from the Exchequer is set aside for roads.

The Exchequer provision for widows orphans, old age and contributory pensions is estimated at £16,000,000 against £15,000,00. Estimates under the headings of police £12,446,155, inland revenue £7,923,000, and customs and excise £5,973,100, show little change; but the Home Office estimate which was £1,876.259 last year, is £5,776,957 for 1937-38.