§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to ensure that the setting of grant-related expenditure assessment by the Secretary of State for the Environment, and the setting of expenditure levels by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for fire and civil defence authorities, is co-ordinated, and that both sums have regard to approved establishment levels, including support staff, turn out, special services, pension costs and fire prevention work.
§ The Prime MinisterI am satisfied that such coordination takes place. Grant-related expenditure assessments are required for the purpose of distributing block grant calculated on principles applicable to all authorities; expenditure levels for the joint fire and civil defence authorities are set as part of the precept limitation process and are intended to reflect the particular circumstances of individual authorities.