§ Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Flome Department (1) if his Department has made any grants directly to Cumbria county council between 1974 and 1979;
(2) what grants his Department made directly to Cumbria county council since 1985.
§ Mr. HurdMy Department paid specific grant contributions to Cumbria county council during the period 1974 to 1979 towards the costs incurred by the council in funding the police, magistrates' courts and probation services in the county as well as civil defence provision and has continued to do so in all subsequent years. Grant has been paid at the rate of 80 per cent. of eligible expenditure for the magistrates' courts and probation service and 50 per cent. for the police service until the financial year 1986–87 and 51 per cent. thereafter. Civil defence expenditure has been grant aided either 75 per cent. or 100 per cent. throughout the period depending on the nature of the expenditure.