§ Mr. Lightbownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of police expenditure he proposes should be met by central Government through police grant in 1987–88.
§ Mr. HurdI propose that the rate of police grant should remain at 51 per cent. for 1987–88 and, for future years, subject to decisions on the rate support grant settlement in those years. I believe that police grant should continue at this level in order to ensure that the police service has the resources it needs to cope with the increasing demands placed upon it. As part of the consultations on the 1987–88 rate support grant settlement the views of the relevant local authority associations will be sought on my proposal.