§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any proposals for introducing a cost-effectiveness study into the Metropolitan police estimates.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMy right hon. Friend fully accepts, as does the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the need to ensure cost-effectiveness and value for money in the use of Metropolitan police resources—particularly manpower, which accounts for some 80 per cent. of the force's budget. This is a constantly recurring theme in the regular discussions which my right hon. Friend and officials have with the Metropolitan police; it is specifically reflected in the force's goal for 1985 and it is one of the prime objectives of the force reorganisation. It will also figure prominently in the urgent work which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 21 October at column 31 he has set in hand to assess the manpower needs for the force. Arrangements approved by his predecessor for examining particular areas of force expenditure are now in place and the first such review, of the management of the vehicle fleet, is well advanced.