§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations about the exercise of his community charge-capping powers in relation to the proposed 1991–92 budget for West Yorkshire police authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Key[holding answer 8 February 1991]: We have received a number of representations from and on behalf of the West Yorkshire police authority about our intentions for charge capping for 1991–92, including those made when I met a delegation from the authority on 29 November 1990.
As my right hon. Friend told the House on 29 January, we stand firmly by these intentions which are, however, necessarily provisional, since, under the statute, capping 432W decisions cannot be made until authorities have set their budgets. It is now for each authority to set its budget having regard to all relevant considerations including its statutory duties, the approved level of police manpower, our intended capping criteria, the need as appropriate for expenditure restraint, and the scope for greater efficiency.