§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will consult London hon. Members before any further purchase of plastic bullets is made by the Metropolitan police.;
(2) when he authorised expenditure by the Metropolitan police on plastic bullets; and what consultations he undertook before making this decision.
§ Mr. MayhewAuthority was given following consultation with the commissioner on the basis of the statement my right hon. Friend made in the House on 15 July 1981, in which he announced his decision that this equipment would be made available to chief officers of police for use in the last resort.—[Vol. 8, c. 1177–1183.]
As with other police authorities and their chief officers of police, decisions on the purchase of police equipment are matters for my right hon. Friend and the commissioner. As well as the other means which all hon. Members have to raise such matters, those with constituencies in the Metropolitan police district may discuss them at their regular meetings with my right hon. Friend.