HC Deb 10 July 1992 vol 211 cc389-90W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to provide a substantive reply to the question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West on 22 May concerning reports from departmental Select Committees.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to give the police extra resources to deal with increasing drug problems in Scotland.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 2 July 1992]: Police authorities determine the resources allocated to their forces and it is for chief constables to decide how the resources available to them should be deployed. The authorities receive police grant at 51 per cent. of their net expenditure. In addition, in the financial years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, three extra officers have been added each year to the strength of the Scottish crime squad for drugs-related inquiries.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Strathclyde on the number of police involved in the recent drug operation in Linwood, Renfrewshire, where seven people were charged with drug-related offences.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 2 July 1992]: No. This is an operational matter which is entirely the responsibility of the chief constable.

Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) armed robberies and (b) crimes involving weapons have taken place during the last five years in K division and X division of Strathclyde police.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 2 July 1992]: The available information is given in the table.

Mr. Newton

I replied to the hon. Member on Thursday 9 July.