§ Sir Peter EmeryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Devon county council concerning the excess spending over standard spending assessment for 2000–01 by the Devon and Cornwall Fire Service; and what response he has made to them. [118504]
§ Ms ArmstrongCornwall has its own fire service. Devon has a Combined Fire Authority consisting of representatives from Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Devon county council's representation on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2000–01 drew attention to the gap between Fire Standard Spending Assessment and the level of spending on the fire service. My officials' reply to the council told them that the Secretary of State would take their comments into consideration before taking his final decisions on the settlement. This he did.