HC Deb 20 December 1984 vol 70 cc540-1
9. Mr. Boyes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide financial assistance to those local authorities wishing to introduce crime prevention schemes.

Mr. Giles Shaw

No, Sir. The Government are, however, making money available through the urban programme for local authority projects that contribute directly or indirectly to the reduction of crime or the alleviation of its effects; and the crime prevention unit which my right hon. and learned Friend set up within the Home Office last year is providing advice and assistance to local authorities in the design, introduction and evaluation of crime prevention initiatives.

Mr. Boyes

Given the increase in crime under the Government, does the Minister agree that the cash from the urban aid programme is simply not enough? Is he aware that many local authorities want to fit spy holes, chains and special locks to the homes of old-age pensioners? Is he further aware that the proposed £1 billion cut in capital spending announced yesterday will make these essential jobs even more difficult to carry out? My own local council has managed to equip 11,000 houses and the Opposition want more authorities to do that, does that not once again show theat it is we and not the Government who care for the elderly?

Mr. Shaw

I disagree with the hon. Member on that. There is plenty of opportunity for a well-organised local authority to make significant improvements connected with crime prevention, at absolutely minimal cost. The hon. Gentleman knows that there is a major campaign abroad to try to achieve just that.

Mr. Lawrence

Will my hon. Friend consider whether the best way in which he can increase the deterrents to burglary would be to give tax relief for the installation of burglar alarms and other home crime precautions? Perhaps he would consider discussing that with his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Mr. Shaw

I am well aware of that argument, and my hon. and learned Friend is right to pose it. The question of giving any special relief from VAT obviously poses great difficulty, because it was designed as a broad-based tax. Frankly, I fear that tax is not really a suitable instrument for the fine adjustment needed to reflect other aspects of the Government's policy, such as crime prevention.

Mr. Corbett

Given that rising crime means a rise in the number of victims, how can the Minister defend spending only £46 million out of a budget of £3,000 million on law and order services to help the victims of crime?

Mr. Shaw

I take the hon. Gentleman's point. Victim relief is one of the important areas of crime prevention. We must make certain that society sees that it can properly care for the victims of crime. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the substantial growth of the voluntary organisations, which are designed to do that.

Mr. Stanbrook

Instead of giving extra financial assistance to local authorities will my hon. Friend consider increasing the establishment of the Metropolitan police, which, after all, was fixed in 1965, since which time the demands upon its manpower have increased enormously? Why do we not give attention to increasing the policing of London's streets?

Mr. Shaw

My hon. Friend will, I know, be aware that the establishments are under review and, indeed, that there has been a modest increase in the establishment of the Metropolitan police this year, but he has a fair point.

Mr. Soley

Is it not time that the Minister gave up any pretence of crime prevention in much the same way as his hon. and learned Friend seems to have given up any pretence of racial equality? Is it not a fact that the crime figures released yesterday, which show a 9 per cent. increase on the third quarter of last year, demonstrate that this is not a Government of law and order, but a Government who utter pious platitudes on crime prevention and victim support at the same time as they sit back and watch disorder and crime rising throughout the country?

Mr. Shaw

My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has done more than any of his predecessors to increase the effort to prevent crime. The fact that the crime figures were indeed a major disappointment yesterday should not distract attention from the major efforts made by the Government.