HC Deb 10 July 1996 vol 281 c168W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each of the last five years the budget awarded by his Department to Cheshire county council. [36449]

Sir Paul Beresford

The Department does not award budgets to local authorities. Each authority is responsible for setting its own budget taking into account a number of considerations, including the capping criteria announced by the Secretary of State. In each of the last five years, Cheshire county council set its budget requirements1 close to the maximum amount permitted under the capping criteria:

£million
1992–93 619.800
1993–94 2587.400
1994–95 608.008
1995–96 3583.690
1996–97 613.042
1In 1992–93, this was known as the precept, under the community charge system.
2Responsibility for further education transferred from local authorities to the Further Education Funding Council on 1 April 1993.
3Responsibility for police services in shire areas transferred from County Councils to free standing Shire police authorities on 1 April 1995.