This Order determines the amount of police grant payable under section 32(1) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 to police authorities and joint police boards in respect of the financial year commencing on 1st April 1997.

The amount of police grant payable to an authority will be 51% of its net expenditure for the purposes of the Act (calculated under article 3) except where such expenditure exceeds a prescribed sum in which case the grant will be limited to that sum. The prescribed sum is determined by a formula set out in article 4 and Schedule 1.

Articles 5 and 6 make provision with respect to the timing and manner of payment of police grant and the conditions subject to which it is payable.

Article 7 revokes the Police Grant (Scotland) Order 1996 except in relation to any sums payable under section 32(1) of the Act and that Order in respect of the financial year ending on 31st March 1996.

A copy of the Scottish Office booklet “Grant Aided Expenditure 1997-98” dated January 1997 (2nd edition) referred to in Schedule 1 to the Order may be obtained, free of charge, from the Scottish Office Development Department, Local Government Finance Division, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh.