HC Deb 08 July 1977 vol 934 cc703-4W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in his capacity as Police Authority for London, he will make a statement on recent cuts in overtime in the Metropolitan Police and how these have affected or are expected to affect the Criminal Investigation Department.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the concern felt by the police at the Home Office decision to ban overtime thus cutting their take-home pay by as much as £30 per week and of the fact that the police in k Division, which covers Newham where there are special social problems, have decided to go slow, if he will review his decision on overtime.

Mr, Merlyn Rees

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answers given to Questions from the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Page) yesterday. — [Vol. 934, c. 627-8.] — The new system for the control of overtime introduced by the Commissioner applies equally to uniformed and CID officers. The Metropolitan Police have said that there is no truth in reports that detectives, both in specialist branches at New Scot land Yard and in Divisions, are "going slow" and refusing to perform overtime in protest at the introduction of the new procedures.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of hours of overtime worked by the Metropolitan Police up to the present in connection with the Grunwick dispute.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

This information is not readily available, and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort and cost.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cadets in the Metropolitan Police Department were recruited in each of the years 1974 to 1976, respectively; how many it is being permitted to recruit in 1977 and 1978; and by what percentage figure the number of police cadets in post will fall in consequence between 1976 and 1979.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

386 were recruited in 1974, 500 in 1975, 546 in 1976 and 119 so far this year. The strength of the Metropolitan Cadet Corps was 710 at 31st March 1977, 98 per cent of the strength at 31st March 1976. The Commissioner proposes to recruit about 160 cadets in the remainder of 1977.

The ages of the new recruits and wastage levels will affect the strength at 31st March 1978, but it is likely to be about 675, 93 per cent. of the strength at 31st March 1976. No decisions have yet been taken about recruitment after 31st March 1978.