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Council Tax Capping (Surrey)

Many hon. Members from Surrey have commented on the fact that Government inspectors have recognised that the Surrey police authority is very efficient in handling its finances and policing operations. The same is true in Derbyshire. Government inspectors say that Derbyshire is highly efficient and has made £40 million in efficiency savings. Central Government are therefore saying to highly efficient police authorities, "Even though you're very efficient and everybody across your county agrees with what you're doing in raising a bit more money out of council tax to make up for Government underfunding, we're going to cap you and stop you doing that." Where is the logic and the local accountability in that?