HL Deb 28 November 1973 vol 347 cc117-8
LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the recruits who joined the police forces in England, Scotland and Wales respectively in 1972, or other convenient recent period of 12 months, were university graduates.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS)

My Lords, in 1972, 90 out of a total of 6,747 recruits to police forces in England were graduates. In Scotland and Wales the figures were 8 out of 954 and 6 out of 413, respectively.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, would my noble friend agree that that proportion seems small, bearing in mind the increasing proportion of the population of this country which enjoys university or equivalent training? Could my noble friend give us the best estimate of the spread of university training among the criminal classes with which the police have to contend?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, as to the first part of my noble friend's question, yes, indeed, the proportion is small, though it is not for lack of trying to make it bigger; and we continue to try. In reply to the second part, I am sorry to say that since we have introduced the Open University into several of our long-term training prisons, in terms of convicted criminals we are actually increasing the proportion.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, would my noble friend say what advantages a graduate has on joining the police over somebody who is not a graduate?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE or CULROSS

My Lords, my noble friend has suggested an answer. I think the correct one is that there are schemes whereby in England, Wales and Scotland—though they are not the same schemes—there are prospects of accelerated promotion. There are possibilities for people who come into the force without a degree to get university training, if they qualify. They then would get the advantage of accelerated promotion if they were successful.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, would the noble Viscount bear in mind that enlightened and progressive counties, such as Essex, have made a habit of sending a number of senior officers to university, and that those officers have in due course graduated?

VISCOUNT COLVILLE OF CULROSS

My Lords, I did not specify Essex. I am sure it happens there, but it is in fact just what I said.

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