Police

HC Deb 13 May 2003 vol 405 cc218-9W

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers occupy(a) posts that have previously been occupied by civilian staff and (b) posts that could be performed by civilian staff in each police service in England and Wales; and what percentage these figures represent of the total officer strength of each police service in England and Wales. [111854]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The information requested is not collected. Decisions about the deployment of staff, including decisions about whether particular posts should be filled by police officers or civilians rest with chief officers.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take measures to discourage officers from forces where special priority payments are limited to 30 per cent. of the force from transferring to neighbouring forces with special priority payments for up to 40 per cent. of the force. [112436]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The Secretary of State is not aware of evidence that officers have transferred for this reason. He has however asked the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) to review the Special Priority Payment (SPP) Scheme, to ensure that it is operating smoothly. PNB will wish to ensure that the Scheme is not having undesirable unintended effects. The Secretary of State wants PNB to ensure that the Scheme is delivering the outcomes for which it was agreed by all parties in PNB—principally to give extra rewards to officers in the most difficult and demanding frontline posts.

Ian Lucas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving North Wales police vehicles responding to emergency calls took place in each year from 1998 to 2003. [112513]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The number of collisions involving police vehicles engaged in immediate/ emergency response and pursuits in the North Wales Police force area is as follows:

Year	Number
1997–98	9
1998–99	10
1999–2000	7
2000–01	12
2001–02	23

Notes:

The information provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.

All figures are for financial years.

Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.

Mr. Watson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what central funding his Department makes available to police forces to cover the cost of policing football matches. [111164]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

The Police Grant Funding Formula allocates grant in line with general policing needs. It does not include a component specifically for the cost of policing football matches. However, in the last two years special grant support of £300,000 a year has been provided to South Wales Police Authority toward the cost of hosting the Cup Finals at the Millennium Stadium.