§ 7. Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with research into protective clothing for police officers, and if he will make a statement. [25056]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythA £100,000 research project, largely funded by my Department, is currently under way at the university of Strathclyde. It will, I hope, pave the way for the development of a lighter vest to protect police officers against stabbing attacks.
§ Mr. ShawI welcome the news that the Government have made that finance available. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that that was possible because police funding in Scotland is ring-fenced? Does he accept that the issue of drug abuse, which was raised earlier, is connected with our ability to protect the police from stabbings and other threats to the body, and that protective clothing is clearly necessary in such circumstances?
§ Mr. ForsythI am grateful for my hon. Friend's words of welcome. Police funding is not ring-fenced in Scotland. Funding for that particular project came from central funds, from my budget, following representations made to me last year by the Police Federation. I strongly believe that we have a duty to ensure that our police on the streets are equipped with all the means we can find to protect them when carrying out their difficult duties.
§ Mr. Charles KennedyOn the subject of protective clothing, will the Secretary of State ensure that his research also takes into account the findings from last night's incident, when the police and others in the vicinity of the Skye bridge were placed at risk due to explosive material left behind by the developers? The material had to be safely taken care of and detonated at a nearby quarry. The Minister of State spoke to me about the matter over the telephone this morning, and there is local anxiety that the inquiry for which the Scottish Office has called is to be carried out by the company and not by the police. No individual would get away with that, so why should the company?
§ Mr. ForsythIf indeed it turns out that the blasting explosives were left by a subcontractor, that is not the 1136 same as the company doing it. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is aware of the distinction. I understand that the main contractor—the company—is inquiring into how the explosives were left behind. As the hon. Gentleman pointed out, it is a serious matter. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and I am sure that the whole House is grateful for that. When the company has produced a report, we shall consider whether further steps are necessary.
§ Mr. StephenWill my right hon. Friend confirm that, in the current year, Scottish local authorities will receive an increase of 7 per cent. in the police grant which will enable them to equip police officers even better than at present? Does he recall that, when Labour left office, the Scottish police service was undermanned and underpaid, and experienced police officers were leaving in droves?
§ Mr. ForsythMy hon. Friend is correct. We are determined to see more policemen on the beat and we have provided more resources in the public expenditure survey round to facilitate that. Although we never anticipate succeeding PES rounds, I am happy to confirm to the House that the police will again be a priority in the next PES round.
§ Mr. McFallThe Opposition welcome the funding of research into protective clothing, which is necessary, in part, because of the Government's complacency about law and order. Since the Conservatives came to power, the number of recorded crimes has more than doubled, to almost 1 million per year. Despite the Minister's warm words, the culture of knives prevails in society, with increases in the number of offensive weapons crimes, violent assaults and drug-related crimes. Is it not clear that the soundbite politics that is cheered at Tory party conferences does not help to solve the problem? The message is that today's streets are more dangerous than ever before because of Conservative law and order policy. When will the Secretary of State do something to assist beleaguered communities?
§ Mr. ForsythThe hon. Gentleman is looking increasingly ridiculous. He speaks for a party that has opposed virtually every measure that we introduced to make life tougher for the criminal. In recent days, he criticised me for calling for longer sentences for criminals and for more prisons to put them in. If we are to have safe streets, we must lock up the criminals. The hon. Gentleman and his party oppose that policy.