§ Dr. PughTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would the financial effect be of a 20 per cent. reduction in the grant allocated to police authorities in each authority in the metropolitan counties. [92317]
§ Mr. DenhamPolice Grant, Revenue Support Grant and National Non-domestic Rate income for the six provincial metropolitan police authorities increased by 4.9 per cent for 2003/04.
The financial effect of a notional reduction of 20 per cent. in the 2003–04 grant would be as follows:
£ million Police authority Grunt 2003–04 Effect of 20 per cent. Greater Manchester 380.8 -76.1 Merseyside 240.5 -48.1 Northumberia 214.3 -42.9 South Yorkshire 172.3 -34.5 West Midlands 386.5 -77.3 West Yorkshire 289.4 -57.8 Total 1,683.6 -336.7 In contrast to the question, Central Government spending in the Police Service will increase by 16 per cent. in cash terms over the Spending Review 2002 period.