§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the factors that determined the police grant(a) net expenditure and (b) percentage increase in real terms for Staffordshire in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99 and (iii) 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement. [103621]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkePolice grant allocations to individual authorities for the years in question were determined under a needs-based funding formula and were approved by the House of Commons. For 1997–98 and 1998–99 police authority expenditure levels were subject to capping limits on budget increases. For 1999–2000, no capping limits were set. The budget increase for that year was determined by Staffordshire Police Authority.
Net expenditure levels are determined by deducting income from gross expenditure. The percentage changes in real terms for the Staffordshire Police Authority for each of the years in question will reflect the application of Her Majesty's Treasury's Gross Domestic Product deflators.