§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what spending level he has set for the Greater Manchester fire authority for 1986–87; how this compares in real terms with the 1985–86 spending level; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what recent representations he has received from the Greater Manchester fire authority about the spending level he has set for the authority for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will now redetermine the spending level he has set for the Greater Manchester fire authority for 1986–87.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. and learned Friend, the then Home Secretary, announced on 26 July at column811 a provisional expenditure level of £37.886 million of which £37.803 million was for the fire service. On 30 October the authority submitted an application for redetermination to £41.723 million (£41.640 million for fire). The application estimated that the 1985–86 outturn expenditure on the fire service by the metropolitan county council would be £37.790 million. No application has been made for civil defence.
On 5 November the authority requested a meeting to discuss this application. The authority's application is being carefully considered and my right hon. Friend intends to announce a decision by the time of the 1986–87 RSG settlement in mid-December. A response will soon be made to the authority's request for a meeting.