HL Deb 29 July 1998 vol 592 cc204-5WA
Lord Haskel

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to make additional appointments to the Metropolitan Police Committee. [HL3202]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

I have today appointed the following as members of the Metropolitan Police Committee:

  • Councillor Lincoln Beswick (Labour, Brent)
  • Councillor Toby Harris (Labour, Haringey)
  • Councillor Barbara Hughes (Labour, Camden)
  • Councillor Tim Joiner (Conservative, Westminster)
  • Councillor Serge Lourie (Liberal Democrat, Richmond upon Thames)
  • Councillor Maggie Mansell (Labour, Croydon)
  • Councillor Derek Sawyer (Labour, Islington)
  • Councillor Michael Slaughter (Conservative, Bexley)
  • Councillor Ala Uddin (Labour, Tower Hamlets)
  • Councillor Ron Gee (Independent, Epsom and Ewell)

They will join the eleven existing members, who are Sir John Quinton, who will remain Chair, Miss Maria Callaghan, Mr. Thomas Chan, Councillor Maurice Heaster (Conservative, Wandsworth), Major General Malcolm Hunt, Councillor Margaret O'Neill (Labour, Bexley), Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque, Mr. Mark Souhami, Mr. Inder Uppal, Mr. Reginald Watts and Ms Rachel Whittaker.

Nine of the new members were nominated by the Association of Local Government, in response to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's request for nominations reflecting the current make-up of London Boroughs. The tenth is the representative of the Outer London Metropolitan Police Group.

The new members will take up their appointments on 1 September. The Committee's task will continue to be, to advise my right honourable friend in relation to the discharge of certain of his functions as Police Authority for the Metropolitan Police. The functions in question are based on those which, outside London, are the responsibility of the police authorities established under the Police Act 1964, as amended by the Police Act 1996.

In particular, my right honourable friend looks to the Committee to prepare for the Metropolitan Police Authority which we intend to establish as part of our proposals for a Mayor and Assembly for London.

The next couple of years bring new challenges, with the Crime and Disorder Bill, efficiency plans and the preparation for the Metropolitan Police Authority. The whole Committee has much to contribute on these and other key issues.