§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount being spent in the current financial year on research and development for the police; and how this compares with the average for the preceding five years.
§ Mr. SharplesExpenditure by the Home Office on scientific research and development for the police service is expected to be £480,000 in the current financial year 1970–71, compared with an average expenditure over the preceding five years of £131,572. These figures do not include the cost of telecommunications or forensic science research related to police operational needs; or the cost of the staff of the Police Scientific Development Branch in the Home Office.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount being spent in 1970 on providing new equipment for the police; and how this sum compares with the expenditure on this item in the last five years.
§ Mr. SharplesThe only figures available are for all expenditure on supplies and transport for the police in England and Wales.
Supplies Transport £ £ 1965–66 3,698,797 6,258,273 1966–67 4,565,728 7,469,647 1967–68 9,462,684* 9,487,691 1968–69 10,402,165 11,379,243 1969–70 11,091,822 13,689,305 1970–71 14,174,703 15,197,001 latest estimate Supplies: This includes office equipment, photographic and scientific equipment, clothing and uniforms and communications.
Transport: This includes expenditure on petrol oil, tyres and licences, repair and maintenance of vehicles, and purchase of new vehicles.
* The figures for 1967–68 and subsequent years for supplies are not comparable with previous expenditure. This is because of procedural changes which resulted in some items previously included under "miscellaneous" being shown under the "supplies and services" heading.
§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government accept the 1962 Willink Report as the basis for the appropriate level of remuneration for the police force.
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§ Mr. SharplesPolice pay is a matter in the first instance for the Police Council. The rate of pay recommended in the interim report of the Royal Commission on the Police was used in the police pay agreement of 1960; but since 1962 the Police Council has used an agreed formula based on the movement of wage rates in industry.
§ Mr. Hamlingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to report to the House on his examination of police complaints procedure.
§ Mr. MaudlingWhen there has been an opportunity to study the conclusions of the working party of the Police Advisory Boards which was set up to consider this matter. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I hope to have their views soon.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have resigned from police forces in England and Wales during each week since the commencement of the current pay negotiations, up to and including the week ended 22nd January, 1971; and how many resigned in the equivalent weeks during the previous year.
§ Mr. SharplesWeekly figures are not collected centrally. Monthly figures are as follows:
Police officers resigning without pension or gratuity 1970 1969 August … 309 333 September … 352 346 October … 362 350 November … 329 356 December … 227 273 Total … 1,579 1,658