HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 c966W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chief Constables he has met since 2001. [125524]

Ms Blears

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I meet police officers of all ranks, including chief officers, as often as possible. These meetings are at a variety of formal and informal events, including visits to police forces, police association conferences and working groups.

Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to chief constablesconcerning (a) contact between hon. Members and their local chief constable and (b) answering correspondence from hon. Members. [125525]

Ms Blears

I have issued no guidance to chief officers on contact with hon. Members or on answering correspondence from them. These are matters for the chief officers themselves.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 9 April 2003, Official Report, column 281W.

I would expect a chief officer to offer every courtesy to hon. Members on matters affecting his or her constituency.