§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police houses have been sold since 1990; what is his estimate of(a) the number and (b) the proportion of these sales in rural areas and villages; and if he will make a statement on future plans and expected trends in sales; [9712]
(2) what representations he has had about the sale of police houses in rural areas and the consequences of such sales for the number of resident police constables; and if he will make a statement. [9713]
§ Mr. MacleanInformation about sales over the period specified is not readily available. Figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy indicate that the number of police houses in England and Wales fell by 3,282 between 1 April 1990 and 1 April 1995. Estimates of numbers and proportions of sales in rural areas and villages could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by making inquiries of each police force. We will continue to encourage the police to dispose of surplus housing in the interests of efficiency and value for money, but these are budgetary and operational matters for local decision.
We receive from time to time representations, most recently from my hon. Friend, about the operational implications of the sale of police houses in rural areas. The deployment of officers within forces is a matter for chief constables but the most effective use of resources within a particular area can often be achieved by deploying officers from a central command point.