§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed deals with supermarket chains to build on sites owned by the Metropolitan police in return for providing a free police station; and what other police forces in England and Wales are considering these proposals.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe are prepared to consider proposals for new police stations submitted by police authorities in collaboration with the private sector, provided these offer better value for money than schemes which are totally publicly funded.
I understand from the Commissioner of Police of Metropolis that the Metropolitan police are not at present considering any such scheme. I understand, however, that South Yorkshire police authority is doing so; we are not aware that any other police authority in England and Wales is in a similar position.