(2) how much funding was allocated per head of population to Essex Police Authority in 2008-09; how much is planned for 2009-10; and if she will make a statement.
The information requested is set out in the table.
The Government do not distribute grant to police authorities purely on the basis of population. The police funding formula uses a range of data relating to demographic and social characteristics to reflect the relative needs of each authority. Grant allocations also take into account the relative tax base of each authority. Grant allocations are stabilised by damping to limit year-on-year variations.
Total grant funding1,2 (£ million) Resident population (million) 2008-09 197.1 1.69 2009-10 202.2 1.70 1 Total grant funding comprises: General Grant (Home Office Police Grant and Communities and Local Government Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates) and Specific Grants include—Crime Fighting Fund, Neighbourhood Policing Fund/Community Support Officers, Basic Command Unit Fund and Special Formula Grant (Rural Policing Fund, Special Priority Payments, Forensic (DNA) Grant, London/SE Allowance and Integrated Police Learning and Development Programme) and Capital Provision. 2 Total Grant funding excludes the following for comparison purposes: Dedicated Security Grant, Pensions Deficit Grant and some minor grant flows. Sources: 1. Grants: Home Office 2. Population: Office of National Statistics, mid year population estimates and projections as used in the police funding formula