§ Mr. Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on the level of establishment of the Lothian and Borders police force;
(2) if he will make it his policy to make an increase in establishment of the Lothian and Borders police force.
§ Mr. RifkindThe present authorised police establishment of Lothian and Borders police is 2,393 and at 31 March the actual strength (taking into account secondments to central service posts or to the Scottish crime squad) was 2,434. In terms of section 3 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, any proposal to increase the authorised establishments is in the first instance a matter for the Lothian and Borders police board.