§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister by how much in total fire authorities have exceeded their grant increase over each of the past five years. [143971]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe amount by which the increase in fire authority precepts has exceeded the increase in grant for the years 1998–99 to 2003–04 is tabled as follows.
This table covers the six Metropolitan County Fire authorities. These were the only single-service fire authorities which received grants and which were in existence throughout the period from 1998–99 to 2003–04. In each year, grants have been compared with previous years' grants on a like-for-like basis, taking into account adjustments for changes in function and funding.
Period Amount by which increase in precepts exceeds grants to the nearest whole £ million 1998–99 to 1999–2000 0 1999–2000 to 2000–01 0 2000–01 to 2001–02 -3 2001–02 to 2002–03 -1 2002–03 to 2003–04 8 The data for the years 1998–99 to 2002–03 is outturn data taken from the RS forms. The data for 2003–04 is budget data taken from the RA forms as outturn data is not yet available. These forms are completed each year by individual local authorities.
343W The grants included are redistributed business rates and Revenue Support Grant. Amounts received under the SSA Reduction Grant (SSA Review) and Central Support Protection Grant have also been included, where appropriate.