§ 15. Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the Metropolitan police in real terms in 1969, 1974, 1979 and 1984; what is the projected expenditure for 1985; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrittanThe force's provisional outturn for 1985–86 is £726.1 million. This compares in real terms with £382.5 million in 1969–70, £508.7 million in 1974–75 and £579.4 million in 1979–80. The force's cash limit for 1985–86 is £763.2 million.
§ Mr. GreenwayMay I congratulate my right hon. and learned Friend on those splendid figures? Does he agree that it is clear that it is Conservative Governments who put real resources into fighting crime, including terrorism, in the metropolis, but that it is the Labour party which always knocks the police and starves them of the resources necessary to do the job?
§ Mr. BrittanThat is entirely true. The only addition I would make is that it is not just in the metropolis that we have provided the resources.
§ Mr. Tony BanksWill the Home Secretary explain, therefore, why, with all the additional resources being pumped into the Metropolitan police, the crime rate in London has continued to increase?
§ Mr. BrittanThe hon. Gentleman will be aware of the answer that I gave earlier about the trend over a long period of time. The lower increase recorded in the country as a whole in the first quarter — a small fall when normal seasonal variations are allowed for — is mildly encouraging.