§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to place a statutory responsibility upon local authorities to allocate a budget for crime prevention measures.
§ Mr. JackNo. It is for individual local authorities to determine their expenditure priorities within overall budgets.
§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for the greater involvement of local authorities in(a) crime prevention and (b) protection to the general public from the effects of crime.
§ Mr. JackLocal authorities are already closely involved in crime prevention and the protection of towns and neighbourhoods through their participation in the delivery of a number of the Government's housing and inner city initiatives, including city challenge, estates action and the safer cities programme. Outside these programmes, the Government welcome the increasing development by local authorities of their own community safety strategies and action plans, in partnership with the police and other agencies, following guidance issued to them in Home Office circular 44/90 (Welsh Office circular 28/90).