HC Deb 14 December 1989 vol 163 cc784-5W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an inquiry into levels of stress on police now engaged in ambulance work and its effects on their future efficiency as police officers.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

We have no plans to do so.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the cost in police time and resources, for each police authority area, of the ambulance dispute since September.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The readily available information is that up to 8 December police forces had provided about the number of man hours shown in the table in assisting the ambulance service in their areas.

Approximate number of man hours
Number
West Midlands 8,200
Bedfordshire 5,900
Lincolnshire 1,500
Dorset 650
Derbyshire 6,800
Hampshire 3,500

Number
Hertfordshire 12,200
South Yorkshire 4,400
West Yorkshire 570
Warwickshire 460
Surrey 450

For the Metropolitan police district I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today in reply to another question.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of police, per day, by Metropolitan police division, employed on ambulance duties since September.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I understand that in the Metropolitan police district from 8 November to 12 December the approximate number of police officers by area employed on duties assisting the ambulance service in each 24-hour period has been as follows:

Approximate number of officers
Area Number
1 72
2 44
3 64
4 40
5 60
6 72
7 74
8 34
TOTAL 460

On each of 23 and 24 October the total was about 670 and on 7 November the total was about 830.

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