§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the budget awarded by his Department to Cheshire county council. [36449]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Department does not award budgets to local authorities. Each authority is responsible for setting its own budget taking into account a number of considerations, including the capping criteria announced by the Secretary of State. In each of the last five years, Cheshire county council set its budget requirements1 close to the maximum amount permitted under the capping criteria:
£million 1992–93 619.800 1993–94 2587.400 1994–95 608.008 1995–96 3583.690 1996–97 613.042 1In 1992–93, this was known as the precept, under the community charge system. 2Responsibility for further education transferred from local authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993. 3Responsibility for police services in shire areas transferred from County Councils to free standing Shire police authorities on 1 April 1995.