Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 20 Rhagfyr 1973.
The situation in industry has gone so far by reason of the difficulty over energy and fuel, whether as the result of action overseas or within this country, that we cannot hold out prospects of getting back on to target at any early date. It would be too optimistic to suggest that we could restore these cuts at an early date.
We are calling them cuts, but they are not cuts in existing expenditure or a lowering of standards; they are a slowing up in the rate of growth. About 12 months ago we were hoping that local government would grow at 4½ per cent. a year. These cuts represent a reduction of that 4½ per cent. to 2½ per cent. Growth of 2½ per cent. is still expected in local government. Therefore, these are cuts in anticipated expenditure rather than in real expenditure at this time.
Because we must make these cuts at a time when the country is being asked to make sacrifices by a five-day week with three days of lighting and heating, when people are being asked to make sacrifices in the home by heating only one room, and when there are difficulties regarding transport, and so on, there is all the more reason for local authority money to be spent on social services and helping those who may suffer hardship in these circumstances. That is not the area in which to make the cuts. I know that it makes good reading when reference is made to meals on wheels, the chronically sick, and so on, but that is not the area in which to make the cuts. That will not save energy and fuel.