§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his proposals for capping of the joint police authorities for 1991–92; what representations he has received concerning the impact of capped police budgets on the recruitment and retention of police officers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. KeyWe have received a number of comments and representations on our intentions for charge capping for 1991–92, including those made separately to my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and to my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Home Office when they met a number of police authority representatives to hear their views. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State told the House on 29 January, we stand firmly by our intentions for capping, which are, however, necessarily provisional, since under the statute capping decisions cannot be made until authorities have set their budgets.
It is now for each authority to set its budgets having regard to all relevant considerations including its statutory duties, the approved level of police manpower, our intended capping criteria, the need as appropriate for expenditure restraint and the scope for greater efficiency.
My right hon. Friend intends to take his capping decisions as soon as reasonably practicable after authorities have set their budgets. When he comes to do so he will take account of all appropriate considerations.