§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the severe financial restrictions the Greater Manchester fire and civil defence authority is facing on both revenue and capital accounts; what representations he has received on the matter; if he will now increase the authority's expenditure limit and capital allocation for 1987–88; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[pursuant to his reply, 16 December 1986, c. 486]: As the right hon. Member is aware, for 1987–88 it is the Government's intention that the precept maxima for the joint fire and civil defence authorities including Greater Manchester should be determined on the basis of the formula in paragraph 2(a) of schedule 2 to the Local Government Finance Bill at present before the House. In the case of the Greater Manchester authority its precept maximum derived from the formula is 9.75p in the pound. The authority was informed of this on 13 January.
The authority was informed of its 1987–88 capital allocation of £2.172 million by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 18 December 1986.
We have received written representations from and have had meetings with the Greater Manchester fire and civil defence authority about these matters; and my hon. Friend the Minister of State. the Earl of Caithness, met a number of hon. Members on 12 January.