§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the manpower shortage in the Ministry of Defence Police Force ; if he will take steps to bring rates of pay for Ministry of Defence Police into line with those of other police forces ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourThe Defence Police Federation has represented to the Ministry of Defence its concern about the long hours that members of the force are obliged to work because of the current manpower shortage.
Negotiations on the pay of the Ministry of Defence Police are conducted centrally by the Civil Service Department, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence. Talks on comparability with other police forces will begin as soon as this is posisble within the framework of the Government's counter-inflation policy.