HC Deb 14 June 1995 vol 261 cc522-4W
Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the central planning and training unit and the police staff college will be employing civilians and lay contributors to provide training in race and community relations in accordance with the recommendations by Lord Scarman. [28133]

Mr. Maclean

Both the central planning and training unit and the police staff college already employ civilian trainers who assist in providing community and race relations training. Both establishments work closely with the specialist support unit, Turvey, which provides training for the training staff, and with the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality who provide contributions for some courses.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will provide a breakdown by ethnic origin for all staff at the police staff college, Bramshill and the central planning and training unit, Harrogate; which are civilians and which are serving police officers; if he will list the dates on which they joined the units, their grades or ranks; if he will list those who would be used as trainers for the race and community relations courses at the police staff college and the central police training unit; and if these persons would be trained to deliver race and community relations training. [28131]

Mr. Maclean

Of 108 staff at the central planning and training unit, Harrogate, 104 are white and four are of ethnic minority origin, 67 are police officers and 41 are civilians.

The most recent survey at the police staff college, Bramshill, showed that of 100 civilian staff, 91 were white, three were of ethnic minority origin, and six were not classified. The survey did not cover police officers, of whom there are currently 20.

Staff who deliver training in community and race relations at either the police staff college or at the central planning and training unit undergo appropriate training at the Home Office specialist support unit, Turvey.

The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 192, if he will place in the Library a copy of the HMI (Schools) and the independent assessor's report on the specialist support unit. [28129]

Mr. Maclean

These reports will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, columns 192–93, if he will place in the Library copies of the relevant minutes regarding funding of the Home Office specialist support unit's management board meetings. [28137]

Mr. Maclean

No. The board is not an executive body, and decisions on funding remain with the Home Office.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the expertise of the central planning and training unit and the police staff college to provide the training in race and community relations to the level that is currently being provided by the Home Office specialist support unit; and if he will make a statement. [28132]

Mr. Maclean

The present contract of the specialist support unit—requires it to provide advice and support to the central planning and training unit—EPTU—so that the latter should be capable of providing community and race relations training to police service trainers by the end of the current contract period in June 1997. The SSU provides advice to both the CPTU and Bramshill in the planning of community and race relations elements in training courses. It is for the management of the colleges to ensure training provision is effective.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 193, how many police officers, at the level of superintendent and above, have attended the Holly Royde seminars in the last five years. [28128]

Mr. Maclean

A total of 222 officers have attended as members of the seminar over the last five years, of which 99 were at superintendent rank or above. In addition a number of senior officers, including chief constables, have contributed to the seminar programme.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 192, if he will list the amount paid by the Home Office to the Home Office specialist support unit for race and community relations training in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95, and the amounts paid by HMI of constabulary to the Home Office specialist support unit in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95. [28136]

Mr. Maclean

Home Office funding for the unit was as follows, including provision of approximately £60,000 in each year for seconded police liaison officers:

  • 1993–94: £598,000
  • 1994–95: £543,000

No funding was provided to the unit by HM inspectorate of constabulary.

Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 May,Official Report, column 191, who is responsible for assessing the police trainers in their competence to deliver race and community relations training; who trained the assessors; when they were trained; and what assessment he has made of their competence to judge race and community relations training. [28130]

Mr. Maclean

Training is provided in various ways in the police service at the central planning and training unit; the police staff college at Bramshill; local police training centres; and by forces. Assessment of trainers is a matter for line managers at each venue. Specialist training for trainers and force training managers is provided at the specialist support unit, which also provides consultancy to the colleges and training centres on the planning and assessment of community and race relations inputs.

Central records are not maintained of the number of trainers, but 15 out of the 17 directors of study at CPTU, who are responsible for assessment of trainers, have received specialist training at the SSU over the last two years. In addition, a new competency-based trainers' course is being introduced there in consultation with SSU staff.