§ 20. Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the size of the Metropolitan police service and the resources available to it. [7868]
§ Mr. HowardThe Government are making available £1.65 billion to the Metropolitan police in 1996–97—£20.5 million more than last year. In addition, the 2 per cent. ceiling on the amount the Metropolitan police can carry forward from one year to the next has been removed. This is likely to be worth an extra £25 million on top of the existing maximum of £34 million. I have not yet received the Commissioner's detailed expenditure proposals for 1996–97, but I expect to see even more officers deployed on the streets of London during 1996–97.