§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an emergency payment to Hampshire county council to help it cover the cost of policing the peace convoy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo. I see no grounds for departing from the normal arrangements under which well over half of the expenditure of police authorities is met from central funds. Under these arrangements the Home Office meets 51 per cent. of the expenditure through police grant and the central Government make a further contribution through the block grant payable to local authorities.