§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Derbyshire about the movement of police into Menton hospital, Clay Cross; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdThe chief constable tells me that since 18 May his force has rented Menton hospital, Clay Cross, which was previously unoccupied, to accommodate between 130 and 155 police officers from other forces who are helping him in policing events arising from the miners' dispute. The police made use of the hospital after other accommodation available to them was used to the full, and the county council had declined to provide premises that it owned. The police are paying a weekly rent of £250 for the use of the hospital to the local health authority. Including that rent, the chief constable estimates that up to 6 June the total estimated cost of using the premises was £17,500. The new structures which have been erected are portable lavatories and a marquee; up to 6 June, the cost of renting these was some £760.