§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an estimate of the cost to public funds of(a) uprating rent allowance in the three police forces in Scotland whose rent allowance was last reviewed in 1988 by the index agreed by the police negotiating board and (b) by the movement in the retail prices index since their force maximum was last reviewed.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 5 April 1990]: If the formula proposed by the police negotiating 928W board for uprating the new housing allowance were used to uprate the rent allowances in payment on 31 March in the three forces concerned, the cost to public funds would be about £2 million in 1990–91; but no such course of action was proposed by the police negotiating board. My right hon. and learned Friend's decision to uprate rent allowances in the three police forces concerned by reference to the increase in the retail prices index is likely to cost about £0.84 million in 1990–91.