§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial support is given by Her Majesty's Government to the Police Federation or its officers; and for what purposes.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggA contribution of 85 per cent. is made through the common police services arrangements to the salaries of the chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the Police Federation's joint central committee, the remainder being met by the federation itself. The travelling and subsistence expenses of joint central committee members attending certain meetings are also reimbursed by the same means. A small sum is also payable for the secretarial expenses incurred by the Police Federation on behalf of the staff side of the Police Negotiating Board. The size of these contributions amounted to about £72,000 in 1987–88. These payments are made mainly in pursuance of the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies committee report on the "Structure and Role of Police Staff Associations" (1979, Cmnd. 7633).
In addition, police authorities provide locally for office facilities, time off for part-time officers, the salaries of full-time officers, and travelling expenses for meetings and conference expenses. Fifty one per cent. of these costs are met through the police specific grant paid by the Government.