§ Mr. StephenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cost of policing at Shoreham harbour in West Sussex.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Sussex as to the cost of policing the demonstrations against the export of live calves at Shoreham harbour; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardI understand that the latest estimate of the costs of policing the demonstrations against animal shipments at Shoreham is £1.9 million. Fifty-one per cent. of all expenditure incurred by Sussex police in 1994–95 will be met by Home Office grant.
The force should look first to its county councils for any extra cash needed. The force budget for the current financial year is some £4 million below its standard spending assessment. Making up that shortfall would attract a further £4 million in Home Office grant, and would give the force increased resources of £8 million in all. This would more than cover the reported costs of the Shoreham demonstrations.
The Government have played its part in ensuring that the Sussex police force is adequately funded. Our current proposals will enable Sussex to spend next year up to £18 million, or 14 per cent., more than it planned to spend in 1994–95.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his current estimate of the total overtime payments made to police officers involved in policing the protests at Shoreham;
(2) what has been the total cost to date of the police presence at Shoreham in connection with calf exports.
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§ Mr. HowardI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to a question from the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Stephen).
Overtime payments made to police officers involved in policing the demonstrations could be identified only at disproportionate cost.