HC Deb 27 November 1996 vol 286 cc257-8W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the area cost adjustment for police authorities, indicating their net effect on(a) the income and (b) the number of uniformed officers in the Welsh police authorities. [5768]

Mr. Hague

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced in the House today that the Government have decided not to implement the recommendations of the review of the area cost adjustment for 1997–98. In coming to this decision, he took account of the concerns of local government on aspects of the report's findings.

My right hon. Friend proposes to consult local government on what further work needs to be undertaken to address concerns.

Sir Wyn Roberts

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for police authority revenue spending in 1997–98. [6887]

Mr. Hague

I propose to make £340.6 million available from total standard spending in Wales to fund police services in 1997–98. This sum comprises £171 million in cash-limited police grant to be paid by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and £169.6 million in standard spending assessments. It represents an overall increase of £8.9 million, or 2.7 per cent. on 1996–97. The sums for each police authority are set out in the following table:

£ million
Police grant Standard spending assessment Total
Dyfed-Powys 25.2 24.6 49.8
Gwent 32.4 32.1 64.5
North Wales 35.7 35.5 71.2
South Wales 77.7 77.4 155.1

In addition, Dyfed-Powys police authority will receive £0.2 million in reduction grant to damp the effect on council taxpayers in its area of a reduction of over 2 per cent. in its police grant and SSA allocations resulting from methodology changes in the police funding formula. The reduction grant will supplement the authority's revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rate entitlement in support of its spending. It does not increase the authority's spending power.

My Department is today writing to each of the police authorities in Wales to consult them on their provisional standard spending assessment for 1997–98. The figures may alter slightly if the balance of the police funding formula as between English and Welsh police authorities changes as a result of consultation.

It is essential that police authorities budget wisely and do not impose an unreasonable burden on council taxpayers. I therefore propose provisional capping principles to inform their budget decisions. Police authorities would not be capped if their budget requirements for 1997–98 were: less than 12.5 per cent. above the sum of the authority's standard spending assessment and police grant; and did not exceed their 1996–97 budget by more than the greater of the sum of the increases in their standard spending assessment and police grant or 3.2 per cent. excluding the sum of £3.2 million which the Home Secretary is providing through police grant for additional police officers.

I will make my final decisions on capping principles in the light of budgets set by police authorities.

I am still considering my capping proposals for local authorities in Wales. I propose to announce provisional capping principles and standard spending assessments for these authorities in the week commencing 9 December.

Copies of the consultation letter will be placed in the Library of the House.