§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he did not give a substantive reply to the question from the hon. member for Leyton regarding certain Metropolitan police expenditure to which an interim reply was given on 9 July, Official Report, column 385; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what was, for each year since 1979, the amount spent by the Metropolitan police on (a) police control and command suites, (b) the fittings of senior officers' accommodation and (c) chauffeur-driven cars.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI very much regret the delay in replying to the hon. Member's earlier question. Records are not kept by the Metropolitan police in a form which enables the information requested (in so far as it is available) to be readily identified and it was necessary to carry out a special exercise to compile it. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the available information is as follows:
Command and control suites
Table A below gives detail of the amounts spent in each financial year since 1979–80 on the building and furnishing of Metropolitan police command and control suites at New Scotland Yard and in divisions. The computerised command and control system will be vital to the effective functioning of the force since, when fully operational, it will handle all incoming messages and all operational instructions to patrolling officers and will be in continual use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It was therefore necessary to provide a working environment which would assist the operators to maintain maximum alertness; and this is reflected in the design and standard of finish of the equipment and furniture in the suites, which was decided upon only after considerable research. Work on the 75 divisional suites is not yet completed: the costs shown relate to the central complex at New Scotland Yard, 22 completed divisional suites and 6 partially completed suites.Furnishing costs of senior officers' accommodation
Separate records are not kept by the Metropolitan police of the annual furnishing costs incurred in fitting out the accommodation of senior officers (ie officers of the rank of commander and above, and their civil staff equivalents). Table B below set out for each rank and grade of senior officer an estimate, based on the currently approved scale of issue of furnishings, which illustrates the typical cost of fitting out new accommodation for such an officer. Costs of this order are seldom incurred in practice because an officer will generally take over the existing accommodation and furnishing used by his or her predecessor. The furnishings of most senior officers' rooms have not changed for a number of years; and some are furnished with items acquired by the force many years ago, the cost of which is no longer known.Chauffeur-driven cars
Table C below shows the total estimated cost to the Metropolitan police of chauffeur-driven cars and their drivers in each year since 1979. These cars are not for the exclusive use of those to whom they are primarily assigned but are available 318W for use by other staff. The figures shown in the table relate to total use of the vehicles and drivers and it is not possible to distinguish between the costs applicable to different uses. A special review of the use of staff cars is in progress.
Table A £000 Expenditure on Metropolitan Police Command and Control Suites, 1979–80—1984–85 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 Central command complex Consoles, clocks and furniture 70 30 60 Associated building work 120 1,410 1,315 Divisional complexes Consoles, clocks and furniture — — — Associated building work — — 101 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Central command complex Consoles, clocks and furniture 320 172 23 Associated building work 165 71 — Divisional complexes Consoles, clocks and furniture 10 7 279 Associated building work 112 701 712
Table B Estimate of typical cost of furnishing new accommodation for senior
Metropolitan police officers
Prices at August 1985, excluding VAT £ Police Commissioner 10,055 Deputy commissioner 7,606 Assistant commissioner 5,868 Deputy assistant commissioner 3,125 Commander 1,209 Civil Staff Receiver 7,606 Deputy receiver 5,868 Grade 5 3,125 Grade 6 1,916 Principal (and equivalents) 1,209
Table C Estimated expenditure on Metropolitan police chauffeur-driven cars
and drivers 1979–80—1984–85
£ million 1979–80 1.363 1980–81 1.714 1981–82 1.812 1982–83 2.080 1983–84 2.302 1984–85 2.386