§ 22. Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby) (Con)If he will make a statement on funding to the Leicestershire police authority. [155766]
§ The Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety(Ms Hazel Blears)Leicestershire police authority will receive general grant funding of £102 million in 2004–05, an increase of £3.2 million or 3.25 per cent. over this year. In addition to that, it will receive more than £10 million for targeted programmes and capital provision. I understand that Leicestershire police authority has set a final budget of £138.1 million for next year-an increase of 6.1 per cent.
§ Mr. RobathanThe Minister will know that the authority has had to increase its budget because it received some £4 million to £5 million less than it expected from the Government. The result has been an increase in council tax. Perhaps, the Minister could explain to her colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister why council tax will have to go up in Leicestershire as a result of the mean-minded funding for the police by this Government.
§ Ms BlearsThe hon. Gentleman would have known, had he been in his place earlier, that the police have 22 received generous funding settlements in the past three years of some 30 per cent. Leicestershire will receive an increase of 3.25 per cent. this year, as well as a whole range of specific grants. The hon. Gentleman will know that his local force now has a record number of police officers out on the streets, with 45 more than in March last year and 210 more than in March 1997. It also has record numbers of police staff. I am sure that he welcomes those increases in policing and in reassurance for his local community.