HC Deb 04 April 1985 vol 76 cc731-2W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the final costs incurred in policing the miners' industrial dispute in Scotland; and if he will list the costs by region.

Mr. Ancram

The information is set out in the following table:

Police Authority Area Estimated final cost
(£'000)
Central 573
Dumfries and Galloway Nil
Fife 729
Grampian Nil
Lothian and Borders 1,540
Northern Nil

Police Authority Area Estimated final cost
(£'000)
Strathclyde 2,095
Tayside 66
Total 5,003

Note: These figures represent the extra costs incurred during the coal dispute.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miners brought to court during the industrial dispute received legal aid.

Mr. Ancram

Such information is not available centrally, and could not be obtained either readily or without disproportionate cost.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many policemen were involved in other areas of Scotland as a result of decisions on mutual aid during the miners' industrial dispute; and how many police forces were involved in the provision of mutual aid.

Mr. Ancram

Three Scottish police forces had occasion to deploy officers outwith their area in connection with the coal dispute. The forces, occasions and numbers of officers involved are shown in the table. Generally the deployments were for only very limited periods, sometimes less than an hour, during the week in question.

Week Commencing 1984 Total Number of Officers Deployed During Week
Central Scotland Force
27 August 411
3 Deptember 91
1 October 15
8 October 48
12 November 109
26 November 120
3 December 219
10 December 48
1985
11 February 80
1984
Fife Force
11 June 41
20 August 219
10 September 31
12 November 78
19 November 111
26 November 161
3 December 55
1985
21 January 105
4 February 60
18 February 80
1984
Lothian and Borders Force
20 August 65
1 October 113
8 October 87
5 November 36

Note:

Individual officers may have been deployed more than once during the weeks in question.