§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a special allocation of funds, above their normal revenue budgets, to the police and fire services to cover the additional costs arising from the millennium celebrations. [70307]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Government's plans allow police spending to increase in 1999–2000 by £186 million (2.7 per cent.) to over £7.1 billion. Police authorities will be able to increase their spending power by achieving the 2 per cent. efficiency target which has been set and re-investing the savings in front-line policing. It is the Government's general expectation that the additional costs arising from millennium celebrations should be met from within police budgets.
Central Government revenue support for the fire service in England is provided through the revenue support grant system. Funding pressures for the fire service in England and Wales, including those which may result from the Millennium, were identified by the local authorities' Fire Service Expenditure Forecasting Group under the Central Local Partnership arrangements. These pressures were taken into account in the Comprehensive Spending Review.