HC Deb 22 February 1979 vol 963 c251W
41. Miss Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the distribution of radiation monitoring equipment at present held in central stores by his Department to the Devon emergency volunteers and similar organisations.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

No. A set of radiac instruments is issued to each county council for training purposes; the main stock

Strength on 31 December 1975 Strength on 31 December 1978 Percentage change between 31 December 1975 and 31 December 1978
Force Men Women Men Women Men Women
Kent 2,332 123 2,415 264 +3.56 +114.63
Devon and Cornwall 2,535 118 2,453 176 −3.23 +49.15
Hampshire 2,673 105 2,722 165 +1.83 +57.14
Greater Manchester 5,497 408 5,592 716 +1.73 +75.49
West Midlands 5,184 384 5,217 652 +0.64 +69.79
Essex 2,177 135 2,178 192 +0.05 +42.22
Merseyside 3,743 316 3,799 486 +1.50 +53.80
Metropolitan 20,348 879 20,473 1,488 +0.61 +69.28

We recognise that with the recent increased intake of women the proportion of women probationers, many of whom are engaged on patrol duties, is higher than the proportion of women in the police forces as a whole. We should like to see an increase in the number of male recruits, and we are hopeful that this will be the effect of the pay award recommended by the Edmund-Davies committee.