§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with senior police officers of Gloucestershire Constabulary concerning the impact on services of the 1999–2000 financial settlement; and if he will make a statement. [73138]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 26 February 1999]The Chief Constable of the Gloucestershire Constabulary (Mr. Tony Butler) wrote to my officials568W about the 1999–2000 funding settlement and met them subsequently to discuss the force's financial position. My officials replied to Mr. Butler on 18 January.
Gloucestershire Constabulary's funding will be £62.4 million in 1999–2000, an increase of 1.4 per cent. over 1998–99. According to latest information from the Audit Commission, expenditure on policing per head of population in Gloucestershire is £105.79. This expenditure level is higher than that in 19 other forces.
It is for the chief officer of each force to decide on the operational deployment of the total resources allocated to them.