§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors were taken into account before refusing a special grant to the chief constable of Gloucestershire for the exceptional costs of the Cromwell Street inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythApplications for special grant are considered against the following criteria: the expenditure must be exceptional, unforseen and of a scale likely to threaten the efficiency of the force.
The application by Gloucestershire police authority was carefully considered against these criteria, taking into account advice from Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, but was not judged to meet the criteria.