Transport Police (Hansard, 26 January 1994)

§ Mr. Trotter
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 December,Official Report, columns 697–98, what amendments will be required to the British Transport Police Scheme 1963 (Amendment) Order 1992 to take effect from April; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
The British Transport Police Force Scheme 1963 will need to be amended to take effect from April to enable the BTP to continue to operate in the restructured railway.
The amendments are needed to allow the British Railways Board, as employer, to enter into the agreements referred to in section 132(3) of the Railways Act 1993. These agreements will enable the BR Board to provide services to other users of the police on a repayment basis.
Some minor consequential amendments will also be needed to ensure compatibility of the scheme with the Railways Act 1993.
Following consultation with the BR Board, London Underground Ltd. and the Docklands Light Railway, the amendments will be laid before Parliament in the spring.

§ Mr. Trotter
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 December,Official Report, columns 697–98, what the budgetary, funding and charging arrangements will be for the British Transport police from April; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Freeman
In the restructuring railway, the employer of the British Transport police, initially the BR Board, will be responsible for the BTP budget. The budget will be drawn up as now on a regional basis, for consideration by the police committee, in consultation with the BTP and users of their services.
Costs attributable to other users will be recovered in full by the employer through charging. It will be for the employer to ensure that all the appropriate charges are collected.
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A licence condition will require operators to use and pay for the services of the BTP. Operators will pay the employer of the police—British Rail—direct. Policing costs will be split between Railtrack, train operating companies, independent station operators and open access operators. Operators will also pay for any specific additional policing requirements.