§ 10. Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Police Federation.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. and learned Friend last met the then chairman at the federation's annual conference in April 1988.
§ Mr. ShersbyWhen my hon. Friend next meets the chairman, will he assure him that the negotiations that are currently taking place in the police arbitration tribunal will be completed before there is any question of reaching a decision or issuing draft regulations on rent allowances?
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWe shall certainly go ahead with the negotiations as quickly as possible. An important point for my hon. Friend and for the police officers concerned is that the level of rent allowances for the police will be restored to them and backdated by regulations from 1 April this year. Those regulations will be brought forward as quickly as possible which, I believe, is exactly what the police want.
§ Mr. Home RobertsonWill the Minister also discuss the case for a fair comparison of the remunerations of all the emergency services, including the ambulance service?
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI have no responsibility for the ambulance service, but I have the utmost admiration for the emergency services with which I have had to work.
§ Sir Hector MonroWill my hon. Friend take the opportunity when he next meets the chairman of congratulating the chief constable of Dumfries and Galloway and all his police officers, and other Scottish police officers, on their outstanding work in the Lockerbie air disaster investigation? Will he associate himself with the remarks of the Lord Advocate that media speculation is singularly unhelpful in concluding an investigation and does nothing to alleviate the feelings of relatives?
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonYes, I agree entirely with my hon. Friend on both counts. The police have been extremely painstaking in the investigation and nothing should be said or done to impede that in any respect.