§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now abandoned his draft formula for setting police force finances; when he intends to present new proposals for setting police force finance in England and Wales; and what scheme he intends to use for the 1995–96 financial year.
§ Mr. MacleanThe setting of police force budgets is a matter for police authorities.
A version of the new police funding formula was issued for consultation to police and local authority associations in September. This version of the formula did not take sufficient account of the need to provide stability and continuity in policing. We therefore concluded that, for 1995–96, police establishment should be included in the funding formula as an indicator of the need for policing. Police authorities will be notified of their allocations of central Government support in the same way as other classes of local authorities. Details of the proposed local government settlement for England and Wales for 1995–96 will be available very shortly after the Budget announcement.