§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to (i) promote and (ii) support the public safety radio communications project in North Yorkshire. [44220]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is intended to replace all radio infrastructures for the police service with the new generation of digital radio communication systems from 1999 onwards. The project is being managed by the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) which became a Non-Departmental Public Body in April this year. Under the PSRCP, a national co-ordinated approach is being taken to the planning, design and implementation of the new communications systems, and PITO has been supporting North Yorkshire Police, along with all other forces in England and Wales, to achieve this. A Business Case for the implementation of the project will be completed this year, and a decision taken on whether to proceed. If a contract is awarded, the North Yorkshire Police force is scheduled to be one of the first forces to receive the new service.