§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his estimate is of the effective increase in the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority's precept for the next financial year; and if he will cap the authority. [164243]
§ Mr. RaynsfordAlternative notional amounts for the 2003–04 budgets of authorities affected by combined fire authorities precepting for the first time in 2004–05 were laid in Parliament on 25 March in the "Limitation of Council Tax and Precepts (Alternative Notional Amounts) Report (England) 2004/05". The report is subject to the approval of Parliament.
In the case of the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority, the alternative notional amount shown in the draft report equals the figure shown in "Fire Service Circular 7/2004", issued on 24 February 2004. Circular 7/2004 also stated the corresponding indicative Band D council tax for the authority for 2003–04 as £46.54.
1260WThe Band D council tax set by the Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority for 2004–05 is £60.21. This was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 25 March in Table 2 of "News Release 2004/ 0069" at: http://www.Iocal.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ ctax045.htm
We need to consider the 2004–05 budget information that we have received from local authorities before taking decisions on capping. We aim to notify authorities that may be in line for capping by the end of April.