§ 15. Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement the Edmund-Davies report on police pay.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Government are committed to accept the conclusions of the Edmund-Davies Committee on pay, subject only to consideration of the phasing of their implementation. I shall make a statement when the committee's report is presented to Parliament and published.
§ Mr. FinsbergI thank the Home Secretary for that reply. Does he agree, however, that it is unfortunate that there appears to be yet another leakage, as there was yesterday of the Fairford United States tanker proposal? Will he investigate that and give the House an assurance that he will not delay making a statement merely because there may be printing problems in getting the documents ready? The police force and the country really cannot wait.
§ Mr. ReesThere are no printing problems. I have the report here. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman could read it in one evening and get it right by the following morning, but I have sent it for printing. Here it is, page upon page. We have already said that we shall accept the report. The House is not waiting to know whether we shall accept it, because I have said that we do. But it is surely proper that I should have time to consider it. As for the leak—if that is what it is—I suppose that there are other places of leaking than through Government Departments.
§ Mr. MacKayDoes the Home Secretary agree that the best deterrent to violent criminals is detection? If he agrees, as I believe he does, will he assure the House that he will implement the Edmund-Davies findings as early as possible and not wait for Treasury approval as to pay policy?
§ Mr. ReesThere is no question of Treasury approval. I have told the House that I shall accept the report. I said that last year. Its implementation will be from 1st September. I have assured those involved that I will bring in the regulations and that we shall accept the report in full.
§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonIn full?
§ Mr. ReesWe have already said that. The Government have accepted it in full, and we shall implement it from 1st September.
§ Mr. WardIs my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths), when speaking in my constituency recently, said that because of the rise in crime committed by evil people, sometimes as young as four years, 20,000 extra policemen were needed? Can the Home Secretary say what that would cost in terms of the Edmund-Davies report's findings?
§ Mr. ReesI could not do that arithmetic even with my education at the excellent State school that I went to. Nevertheless, I doubt whether the figures are right.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe right hon. Gentleman said that the Government accept the Edmund-Davies report. I am pleased to hear that. He also said that he will implement it on 1st September. Will he implement it in full on 1st September?
§ Mr. ReesI shall do what I said last year. I said then that we would accept the report, whatever it said. I added "subject to phasing", and I shall make an announcement to the House.