§ Lord Joplingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a grant to the mountain rescue teams of England and Wales, in view of the recent grant made by the Scottish Parliament to the Scottish rescue teams. [HL3156]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe recent grant made to the Scottish mountain rescue teams went to the police forces in Scotland to cover costs incurred by teams affiliated to the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland. In England and Wales the police funding formula, by which police grant is allocated, reflects the relative needs of all police authorities. There is no component of the funding formula directly related to mountainous geography of any police force area. The funding formula is established and maintained in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA) and any significant issues are taken into account when the funding formula is reviewed. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is always prepared to consider requests for a special grant payment when a police authority is faced with a particularly extraordinary funding pressure on a specific issue.