To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in determining public expenditure plans for 1990–91 what provision was made for the cost of (i) coroners' courts, (ii) probation and (iii) magistrates' courts.

Under the new planning total, the Government no longer make expenditure plans or provision for local authority spending but only for central Government support towards that spending. Central Government provide specific grant at the rate of 80 per cent. towards the costs of the probation service and magistrates courts.The planned grant provision in 1990–91 for magistrates courts is £184·1 million for current expenditure and £40·6 million for capital expenditure, and for the probation service £198·8 million for current expenditure and £7·5 million for capital expenditure. In addition, credit approvals for capital expenditure will be made available totalling £10·5 million for magistrates' courts and £3·8 million for probation. Coroners courts are supported not through specific grant but through revenue support grant.