§ Dr. TwinnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the total cost to public funds of the Metropolitan police in 1989–90; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdAs police authority for the metropolis I have approved estimates which provide for net revenue expenditure by the Metropolitan police of £1,082.391 million in 1989–90, an increase of 7.7 per cent. on the expenditure I approved for 1988–89. This will be a cash limit.
The increase in expenditure is largely to meet increased manpower costs including the extra 300 police officers and 250 civilian staff which I announced on 30 January.
I have also authorised the issue of a precept requiring rating authorities to levy rates at 18.88p in the pound for Metropolitan police purposes. This is an increase of 14.4 per cent. on the 1988–89 precept of 16.5p.
112WThe precept has been affected by block grant payments to the Metropolitan police due in 1989–90. The Metropolitan police are subject to the same block grant arrangements as local authorities and like them benefits from block grant in some years more than others. Although the Metropolitan police will receive over £9 million less in block grant in 1989–90, overall, London will receive £175 million more.