§ 4. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on police recruitment for the Metropolitan Area.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThere was a net gain in strength of 377 in 1975, and a further gain of 42 brought the strength to 21,269 on 31st January 1976. Many more policement are still needed, but the rate of recruitment is continuing to improve.
§ 24. Mr. Peter Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he expects will be the effect of the White Paper on Public Expenditure on police manning.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsProvision is made in the White Paper for the continuing buildup of police strengths towards authorised establishments. If they can attract the necessary recruits—and recruitment is showing a welcome improvement—most forces should reach their authorised establishment within the survey period, and deficiencies in the remainder should be substantially reduced. Requests for authority for increases in establishment, although not excluded, will, however, have to be very rigorously scrutinised.