§ Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is pursuing to reduce crime.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend and I expect that further reductions in crime will be achieved by the deployment of the extra 500 operational police officers, backed up by improved technology, which he announced to the Scottish Grand Committee on 11 December. I announced, on 13 December, a £4 million CCTV challenge competition for Scotland to help fund more CCTV schemes, which have a clear effect on reducing crime. The Scottish Crime Prevention Council will continue its programme of crime prevention measures, which have achieved much since the council was set up in 1992. My right hon. Friend and I welcome the fact that recorded crime is falling—7 per cent. in the first six months of 1995, following reductions in the three previous years—and further reduction remains a major concern of the Government.