HC Deb 23 June 1966 vol 730 c904
38. Mr. Mapp

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department after what consultations, and for what reasons, he decided that the police forces in southeast Lancashire county boroughs should be organised with Lancashire County Council rather than with the enlarged Manchester police organisation.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale are separated from Manchester by parts of the county and I have no power under the Police Act to amalgamate parts of police areas.

Mr. Mapp

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that his otherwise rational decision has been sharply restricted by the limitations of the 1964 Act and that a small amending Measure would enable him to be really efficient in this matter? Is he prepared to consider a small amendment to the Act?

Mr. Jenkins

That amounts to the eighth request today for legislation. It was urgently necessary to proceed with police reorganisation. Although I was not responsible for the 1964 Act, I thought it my duty to make the best progress I could under the Act and that is what I propose to do.

Mr. Hogg

In view of what has taken place throughout Question Time, will the right hon. Gentleman re-examine the requests for legislation? Is he not the Cinderella of the Cabinet at the present time?

Mr. Jenkins

The right hon. and learned Gentleman has been very anxious to find something to get excited about today. I assure him that, in the autumn, we will give him a Criminal Justice Bill which will be a major measure and provide him with plenty to get excited about.