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2 May 2006 : Column 1421W—continued
Port Security
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis was for the
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allocation of funding for security at the ports of Holyhead and Mostyn in North Wales for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2007–08. [66028]
Mr. McNulty: All decisions relating to the allocation of funding of security at ports, including Holyhead and Mostyn, are taken in conjunction with the appropriate security authorities, ensuring that all relevant factors are taken into account.
Following consultation and widespread support we have consolidated from 2006–07 a range of financial provisions previously made for Counter Terrorism (CT) policing. This includes provision for Dedicated Security Posts (DSP) previously included in the general grant formula. North Wales will receive £3.7 million in DSP funding next year and will be able to bid for further CT funding from a £64 million pot that will be allocated on advice from the Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Special Constables
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there are in England and Wales. [65492]
Hazel Blears: The information requested for police officers is available from the 'Police Service Strength publication as at 31 March 2005'. This report was published on 25 July 2005 and is available in the Library of the House and on:www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1205.pdf
Police
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the planned funding levels are for (a) Derbyshire, (b) Leicestershire, (c) Nottinghamshire, (d) Lincolnshire and (e) Northamptonshire police forces for (i) 2006–07, (ii) 2007–08 and (iii) 2008–09. [63402]
Hazel Blears: Grant funding, where available, is set out in the table. Funding for 2008–09 will be announced in due course as part of the newly introduced multi year funding settlements.
(11) Special Formula Grant comprises the former specific grants Rural Policing Fund; Special Priority Payments; Forensic (DMA Expansion) Grant.
(12) Community Support Officers Continuation funding is based on a 3 per cent. uplift.
(13) 2007–08 figures exclude Pension Deficit Grant that will be based on actual net pensions' costs (estimates are available and used here for 2006–07); and Dedicated Security Posts funding, for which allocations for 2006–07 have been made and are included in the table.
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Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police per head of population there are in (a) England and Wales, (b) Avon and Somerset police constabulary, (c) Taunton Deane, West Somerset and Sedgemoor Basic Command Unit and (d) Taunton constituency. [64063]
Hazel Blears: The available information for England and Wales and Avon and Somerset constabulary is provided in the table.
The available data for the number of police officers per head of population in each BCU level in Avon and Somerset are provided in the table. Deployment of police officers in Avon and Somerset to basic command units is an operational matter for the chief constable.
Statistics by constituency are not collected centrally.
(14) BCU data is not collected by gender.
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates the set-up costs of the new Yorkshire and Humberside police force will be; and from what main areas he expects the projected savings to come. [64985]
Hazel Blears: The cost of the proposed reorganisation of North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside police is currently estimated at £39 million. Long-term savings made possible by the merger are estimated at around £18 million per annum. The precise projected level of these costs and savings is a matter for negotiations currently taking place. We have agreed to meet 100 per cent. of reasonable set up revenue and capital costs, net of reasonable savings.
The main projected savings will come from ongoing reductions in police authorities, command teams from four to one, savings in staff through redeployment and some natural wastage and economies of scale in administrative functions.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether additional funding will be available in police budgets for 2006–07 for the merging of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire police forces. [65785]
Hazel Blears:
We are committed to paying 100 per cent. of reasonable set up revenue and capital costs of restructuring, net of reasonable savings. The precise projected level of these costs and savings is a matter for negotiations currently taking place.
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David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the governance arrangement of the new Yorkshire-wide police force will be. [65793]
Hazel Blears: An order made under section 32 of the Police Act 1996 amalgamating the Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire police areas would provide for the establishment of a combined police authority. We have asked the existing police authorities to submit proposals as to the number of members to be appointed to the combined police authority and have indicated that we are ready to provide, for a transitional period, for a slightly larger authority than would be appropriate in the longer term. After the transitional period (which is expected to be for two years) the expectation would be that most police authorities would have no more than 23 members, although a higher number may be appropriate in the case of a new Yorkshire-wide police authority given to need to ensure that all upper tier local authorities in the region have at least one seat on the police authority. From 1 April 2008, when the new force would be established, the combined police authority would have the same duties and responsibilities as existing police authorities with the addition of the new functions provided for in schedule 2 to the Police and Justice Bill.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the additional costs to individual police force budgets of merging the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire police forces. [65809]
Hazel Blears: The estimated cost of the proposed restructuring in order to improve procedure service of the five East Midlands police forces is £77 million. We will pay 100 per cent. of reasonable set up revenue and capital costs, net of reasonable savings. The precise projected level of costs and savings is a matter for negotiations currently taking place.
Long run savings from restructuring are currently estimated at £16 million per annum in the East Midlands.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the set-up costs of a strategic police force for Wales. [66033]
Hazel Blears: The estimated set-up costs of a strategic police force for Wales is £35 million. We are committed to paying 100 per cent. of reasonable set-up revenue and capital costs, net of reasonable savings. The precise projected level of these costs and savings is a matter for negotiations currently taking place.
Long-term savings made possible by the merger are currently estimated at around £16 million a year.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision will be made for redundant staff in the event of police reorganisation in Wales. [66078]
Hazel Blears:
The proposed merger of police forces into new strategic forces addresses an identified weakness in current provision and is intended to strengthen forces' ability to deliver protective services to the public. Decisions about future posts will be for the new strategic forces management teams to determine. The transfer of officers and staff to new strategic forces
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will be governed by existing regulations and terms and conditions and, with regard to police staff, by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment Regulations).
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