§ Mr. Conlanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the decision not to proceed at present with local government reorganisation on Tyneside, he has any proposals for the amalgamation of police forces there.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsWhen I announced on 18th May, 1966 a programme of amalgamations for the police forces of England and Wales I deferred making any proposals for the police forces on Tyneside. Following the recent announcement by the Minister of Housing and Local Government not to proceed at the present time with any measure of reorganisation of local government in this area, I have decided that in the interests of police300W efficiency I should propose the amalgamation for police purposes of Northumberland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Tynemouth; and of Durham, Gateshead and South Shields. Letters have been sent on my behalf to the police authorities for these areas making proposals for these two combined forces.