§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the respective chief constables and publish in the Official Report deails of the total cost of policing in north Wales, Dyfed-Powys, south Wales and Gwent in connection with the dispute in the mining industry; and what proportion of this expenditure is to be borne by the relevant police authorities.
§ Mr. HurdThe total cost cannot be calculated at this stage. Fifty per cent. of the additional costs will be payable by the police authorities and 50 per cent. will be met by the Home Office through police grant.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the chief constables concerned regarding the extent to which their forces have been involved in activities relating to the picketing of coal mines, of the nature of the records they are keeping of such involvement, and of all cases of complaints against the police regarding the use of force on such occasions; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the reports.
§ Mr. HurdThe daily reports from chief officers of police in England and Wales explain that the extent of policing required in relation to events arising from the miner's dispute has varied, both in the number of local officers deployed and in the numbers from other forces. There is a statutory procedure for the recording by chief officers of complaints against the police.