§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make up any reduction in the budget of the Humberside police as a result of decisions of Humberside county council; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will set up an inquiry into the adequacy of policing in Humberside following the budget reductions proposed by the Humberside county council.
§ Mr. BrittanThe statutory responsibility for securing the maintenance of an adequate and efficient police force for an area rests with the police authority. Fifty per cent. of the expenditure of each authority is met by the Home Office under the Police (Grant) Order 1966 and it would not be right for me to increase that proportion for a particular force. I look to Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary to keep me informed of the effects of the budget levels fixed by the Humberside police authority on the efficiency of the force.