HC Deb 05 November 1979 vol 973 cc62-4W
Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers were recruited by each police force in Scotland in each month of 1979 to the end of September; and how many resigned from each force in each month of the same period.

Quarter to 31 March 1979 30 June 1979 30 September 1979
Force Recruits Resignations Recruits Resignations Recruits Resignations
Central 13 4 12 1 24 3
Dumfries and Galloway 8 6 8 1 5 Nil
Fife 22 4 11 7 30 3
Grampian 25 4 21 8 24 6
Lothian and Borders 66 10 57 22 78 6
Northern 18 7 12 8 18 4
Strathclyde 237 47 182 63 222 61
Tayside 15 3 8 3 23 6
Total 404 85 311 113 424 89
Note: Total losses from all causes in the three quarters were 128, 155 and 232, respectively.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to review the upper age limit for recruits to police forces in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

No.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much public expenditure on the police in Scotland rose between 1974–75 and 1978–79; and by how much he estimates it will increase in the next financial year.

Mr. Rifkind

Total public expenditure on police services—including school crossing patrols—in Scotland is provisionally estimated to have risen over the period between 1974–75 and 1978–79 by about 2.8 per cent. in real terms. It is estimated that it will increase in real terms by a further 2.5 per cent. in 1979–80.

Mr. Harry Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans for increasing the authorised establishment levels of police forces in Scotland.

Mr. Rifkind

It is for each police authority, acting on the advice of its chief constable, to apply to my right hon.

Quarter ending:
Force 31 March 1979 30 June 1979 30 September 1979
Central +4
Dumfries and Galloway -2 +2 +3
Fife -2 +1 +3
Grampian +3 -5 +8
Lothian and Borders -5 +9 +14
Northern -1 -1 +4
Strathclyde -9 +14 +25
Tayside -4 +15
Total -20 +24 +72

Mr. Rifkind

Information on police strengths is collected quarterly; on that basis the information is as follows:

Friend for any increase in establishment levels.

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