§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the estimated cost of replacing the radio communications equipment for the whole of the Metropolitan police district;
(2) if he will estimate the length of time that will be required by the Metropolitan police to plan, install and implement a trunked radio system.
§ Mr. Charles WardleI understand that the Metropolitan police are evaluating tenders for the replacement of personal radio systems for divisional, specialist and public order use. The timescale for implementation will be a matter of negotiation prior to contract but the indications are that the work will take between four and five years to complete.
So long as the Metropolitan police are in negotiation with potential suppliers, details of cost estimates are commercially sensitive.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the dates for the implementation of the public safety radio communications project.
§ Mr. Charles WardleWe plan that the public safety radio communications project, if approved, would be implemented from 1998. To that end, the Home Office is currently undertaking a detailed assessment of the feasibility and costs of various options. Implementation will depend on a number of factors including the availability of frequencies and technology.