1The Minister of Housing and Local Government (hereinafter referred to as " the Minister ") shall ascertain and certify—
(a)the total amount of the relevant local expenditure (as defined in section four of the Act of 1948) of all the counties and county boroughs in England and Wales ; and
(b)the total of the weighted populations (as defined in section three of the Act of 1948) of all the counties and county boroughs in England and Wales.