§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the expenditure on his Department's crime prevention initiatives, in cash and real terms, in each of the last three years; what is the planned cash and real terms spending in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [70325]
§ Mr. BoatengOver the last three years, (1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99) £12.4 million, £16.1 million and £9.4 million will have been spent in cash terms on crime prevention initiatives. In real terms at 1998–99 prices this is £13 million, £16.5 million and £9.4 million.
In July 1998 the Government announced a new £250 million crime reduction programme. Over the three years from April 1999 the planned cash expenditure for this programme and other crime prevention initiatives is £42.1 million in 1999–2000, £101.8 million in 2000–01 and £111.8 million in 2001–02. In real terms at 1998–99 prices this is £41 million, £96.8 million and £103.8 million.
These figures are in addition to public expenditure on the police service, one of whose key functions is crime prevention.