§ Mr. Hawksleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been provided by his Department for the West Mercia police authority in each of the last five years; and what has been the authorised strength of the force at the end of each of those years.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggUntil this financial year, the Home Office met 50 per cent. of the expenditure of the West Mercia police authority through police grant. The Department of the Environment also made a contribution to the remaining expenditure through block grant. Police grant is paid in advance on the basis of estimates and any under-or over-payment is corrected by adjustments to advances in later years. The actual sums paid out in each year will, therefore, be more or less than 50 per cent. of the police authority's actual expenditure in that year.
We have increased the rate of police grant for 1986–87 from 50 per cent. to 51 per cent. The table below sets out for each year the sum of police grant paid by the Home Office to the West Mercia police authority, the authorised establishment of the West Mercia police at 31 March and the actual strength of the force at that date.
Police grant paid £ million Authorised establishment at 31 March Actual strength at 31 March 1981–82 14.77 1,921 1,926 1982–83 16.48 1,923 1,916 1983–84 18.13 1,923 1,920 1984–85 20.55 1,923 1,919 1985–86 20.61 1,953 1,939