HC Deb 27 January 2004 vol 417 c278W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she plans to brief employees of the Royal Parks Constabulary about the details of its proposed merger with the Metropolitan police and the implications for their terms and conditions. [150290]

Mr. Caborn

The Government have been unable to find the parliamentary time to bring forward legislation to merge the Royal Parks Constabulary (RPC) with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) during the current parliamentary session. It remains our intention to do so at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime we are working closely with the MPS and have provided extra funding to establish from 1 April an MPS Operational Command Unit within the Parks to work alongside the RPC to ensure the Parks continue to be policed effectively. The Chief Executive of The Royal Parks wrote to all RPC staff on 16 January to bring them up-to-date with these plans.