§ Lord Smith of Leighasked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the increasing cost of countering terrorism should be funded by council taxpayers through the police precepts. [HL241]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe annual police funding settlement provides grant support for the full range of policing services and takes account of the financial pressures on all police authorities. Details of the provisional police funding settlement for 2004-05 were announced on 19 November. On top of the settlement, additional grants totalling £69 million are being made available to police authorities to counter terrorism.
130WAIt is a matter for police authorities to set final budgets and precepts, taking local needs into account. We expect authorities to set budgets that do not place excessive burdens on local taxpayers.