§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of salary differences and the free rail travel offer to those officers within a 70-mile radius of Charing Cross station on the number of police officers transferring from Bedfordshire Police to the Metropolitan police. [13438]
§ Mr. DenhamOfficers in the Metropolitan police qualify for a London allowance and London weighting in addition to their basic pay. For officers who were appointed before 1 September]994 and who receive a housing emolument, the London allowance is worth £1,011 a year. From 1 July 2000, officers who were appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and who are not in receipt of a housing emolument receive a London allowance of £4,338 a year. London weighting was increased to £1,773 a year for all Metropolitan police officers from] July this year. In addition, officers in the Metropolitan police have free rail travel to and from work within a 70-mile radius of Charing Cross Station.
From 1 April 2001, officers in Bedfordshire appointed on or after 1 September 1994 who are not in receipt of a housing allowance receive an allowance of £1,000 a year in addition to basic pay.
The increase in the London allowance and the new allowance for officers in Bedfordshire were approved by the then Home Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), following agreements in the Police Negotiating Board (PNB). PNB is the statutory negotiating body for police pay and conditions which makes recommendations to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State approved the new allowances in recognition of the recruitment and retention difficulties associated with the higher cost of living in London and Bedfordshire.
643WSince 1 July 2000, 12 officers have transferred from the Bedfordshire police to the Metropolitan police and two have moved from the Metropolitan police to Bedfordshire police. I will keep the position under review.