§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Lothian and Borders police on the number of police officers and vehicles which were deployed at Blindwells, East Lothian, on the morning of 10 December; what was the cost of this police operation; and what was the purpose of the blocking of traffic on the Tranent/Meadowmill road on that occasion.
§ Mr. Ancram[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1984, c. 620]: I understand from the chief constable that up to a maximum of 174 officers and 16 vehicles were deployed at the scene where some 500 persons had gathered; that it is not possible for him to provide a separate cost for this particular policing operation; and that it was necessary to close the road to traffic for a period to prevent obstruction to the entrance to the Blindwells site and to permit the police to exercise operational control at the scene.
Rates of basic police pay in Scotland Table A Rank As at 1 September 1979 From 1 September 1980 From 1 September 1981 From 1 September 1982 From 1 September 1983 From 1 September 1984 Min. Max. Average % increase Min. Max. Average % increase Min. Max. Average % increase Min. Max. Average % increase Min. Max. Average % increase Min. Max. Chief Constable 18,840 23,268 12.5 21,195 26,175 8 23,046 28,203 10.3 25,419 31,107 8.8 27,519 33,678 * 27,519 33,678 Deputy Chief Constable 15,072 18,615 12.5 17,502 20,943 10 19,602 22,794 10.3 21,621 25,143 8.8 23,949 27,222 * 23,949 27,222 Assistant Chief Constable 14,187 — 19.8 17,001 — 12.4 19,101 — 10.3 21,069 — 8.8 22,809 — * 22,809 — Chief Superintendent 12,258 13,257 21.3 14,868 16,050 13.2 16,830 18,150 10.3 18,564 20,004 7.7 20,124 21,483 4.8 21,090 22,506 Superintendent 11,124 12,015 21.3 13,494 14,565 13.2 15,276 16,482 10.3 16,848 18,174 7.7 18,102 19,698 4.8 18,972 20,640 Chief Inspector 8,058 8,967 21.3 9,774 10,875 13.2 11,064 12,309 10.3 12,204 13,578 8.4 13,230 14,718 5.1 13,944 15,513 Inspector 7,095 8,058 21.3 8,607 9,774 13.2 9,774 11,064 10.3 10,749 12,204 8.4 11,652 13,230 5.1 12,282 13,944 Sergeant 6,186 7,095 21.3 7,503 8,607 13.2 8,493 9,744 10.3 9,369 10,749 8.4 10,155 11,652 5.1 10,704 12,282 Constable 4,086 6,471 21.3 4,956 7,848 13.2 5,610 8,883 10.3 6,189 9,798 8.4 6,708 10,620 5.1 6,708 11,193 * Rates of pay for these ranks, as from 1 September 1984, are the subject of continuing negotiations within the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom.
Table B Additional emoluments payable to Police officers in Scotland Type of Payment Annual rate (unless otherwise stated) Percentage increase (1984 over 1979) 1 September 1979 1 December 1984 Bicycle allowance £4.25—£17 £10—£40 135 Dental expenses In line with NHS charges — Detective duty and expenses £518 £518 — (Superintendent ranks only) £52 £52 — (below Superintendent rank) Distant islands allowance Payment of travel expenses to mainland (maximum of 3 journeys) — Doghandlers' allowance £288—£387 £492—£666 71–72 (depending on rank) Extra duty* No fixed rate (payable by authority for which duties are undertaken) — Language allowance £84—£344 £267—£1,370 218–298 (depending on language(s)) Medical/optical expenses Variable (cost of prescriptions; or treatment not available within the NHS which is prescribed by the force medical officer) — Motor vehicle allowance Variable (depending on vehicle and user) — Officer held in reserve away from normal place of duty Variable (according to circumstances) — Overtime, public holiday and rest day working Variable (ranks below Superintendent) —