§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the expenditure by his Department in each of the years(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01, (f) 2001-–02 and (g) 2002–03 (estimated) was allocated with reference to the index of multiple deprivation; which expenditure programmes are allocated with respect to this index and other measures of relative geographic deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [8941]
§ Mr. Blunkett[holding answer 25 October 2001]: In 2001–02, £2.9 million for a scheme to improve the security of local shops in deprived areas has been allocated by reference both to the indices of deprivation compiled by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and to the Welsh index of deprivation. We plan to allocate a further £5.8 million under the scheme by reference to those indices in 2002–03. Police grant and probation area funding are also allocated on the basis of formulas that take account of relative deprivation. In the current financial year. police grant is expected to be approximately £3,995 million and grant to local probation boards approximately £500 million.