§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to the public funds of the Home Office sponsored experiment carried out by the West Midlands police air support unit in February over a stretch of the M42.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Home Office share of the cost of the three patrol flights over the M42 in February was £1,064. There were no additional police costs incurred.
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans for further sponsored experiments by his Department involving police air support units being used for road traffic purposes.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo, but we shall be considering this matter again when we have received the report on the recently completed experiment.
§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, when he intends to reach a conclusion on the outcome of the experiment of using police air support units for road traffic purposes; and if he will make it his policy to make an oral statement to the House when he has reached a decision.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggA report on the experiment, which formed a minor part of an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of the midlands police air operation, is being prepared. I shall write to my hon. Friend when it is available.