HC Deb 18 October 1989 vol 158 cc124-5W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total costs to public funds arising out of security measures provided by the various police forces at the 1989(a) Labour party conference, (b) Conservative party conference, (c) SLD conference, (d) SDP conference and (e) Green party conference.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I understand from the chief officers of the forces concerned that the additional cost of policing the 1989 party conferences were estimated as follows:

Conference Force Additional cost £
Labour Sussex 4,000
Conservative Lancashire 1,080,000
Social and Liberal Democrats Sussex 600
Social Democratic Party North Yorkshire None
Green Party West Midlands None

The level of resources provided for the policing of party conferences is an operational matter for the chief officer of police in the light of all circumstances, including an assessment of the threat of terrorist attack.