§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what resources he allocated to local authorities in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 to enable them to carry out the new duties imposed on them by section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. [142448]
§ Ms Beverley Hughes[holding answer 12 December 2000]: It is not possible to specify a particular figure. In the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Government took into account the pressures on local government, including this one, as well as the scope for efficiencies. Spending plans from 1999–2000 onwards represent our view of the appropriate level of local government funding in the round. The Government increased general block grant to local authorities by£1.5 billion in each of the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. General grant is not hypothecated, and it is not possible to identify how much has been included to meet individual burdens and pressures.