HC Deb 14 May 1990 vol 172 cc307-8W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will clarify the definition of equipment needed by police authorities and provided by their capital allocations;

(2) when he will publish a definition of the difference between revenue and capital in police authority spending on items costing less than £6,000.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Expenditure for capital purposes is defined by section 40(2) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Neither the Act nor the regulations made under it contain any 'de minimis' provision under which items below a certain value can be excluded from the definition of expenditure for capital purposes.

Consideration is being given to the need for further guidance to police authorities on police capital expenditure.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide police authorities with longer prior notice of their capital allocations than the period given to Gwent police authority in February in the current year.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Every effort will be made to provide this information as early as possible.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when funds for site acquisition for Monmouth police station will be received by the Gwent police authority;

(2) when the capital approval for fees for the Abertillery police station will be made.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

No application has been received from the Gwent police authority for approval to the acquisition of a site for Monmouth police station or for approval of the planning fees in respect of Abertillery police station.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the Home Office minor works cost limits for police authorities' budgets.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to review these limits.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to assist police authorities in their planned purchase of capital items in the current year, based on 1989 capital spending.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The provision made in the Government's expenditure plans for grant and credit approvals for police capital expenditure in the current financial year has been allocated to police authorities in proportion to their planned spending with full allowance made for expenditure which has been contractually committed.