§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to chief officers of 218W police that their acquisition of arms, ammunition and riot control gear should be from British manufacturers wherever possible.
§ Mr. MayhewThe responsibility for equipping a force rests with the chief officer concerned and the police authority. They are aware of the need to obtain best value for the expenditure of public money, and also, in the light of operational requirements, of the desirability of buying from British manufacturers wherever possible.
§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the money spent by chief officers of police in each of the last three years on the acquisition of arms and ammunition; and what proportion in each year has been bought from British manufacturers.
§ Mr. MayhewThis information could be obtained from police forces only at disproportionate cost.