HC Deb 18 June 1998 vol 314 cc296-7W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the selection procedure for chief officers of police. [45679]

Mr. Michael

The responsibility for making appointments and for managing the procedures for the selection and appointment of chief officers of police in England and Wales rests with police authorities.

On 2 December 1996, the Home Office issued guidance to police authorities following consultation with representatives of the then police authority associations, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary, the police staff associations and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the income for each year since its formation of the Chief Police Officers Staff Association; what is the membership fee for each member; what amount is contributed from public funds; and if he will make a statement; [46085]

(2) if the Association of Chief Police Officers will be subject to the Government's proposed freedom of information legislation; [46115]

(3) if he will place in the Library copies of the accounts for the Association of Chief Police Officers for each of the last five years for which they are available. [46108]

Mr. Michael

Under the current proposals, the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland would not be subject to the proposed legislation. ACPO is not a public body within the terms of the proposals. However, much of the information which is supplied by ACPO and which would be held by public bodies such as police forces, or the Home Office, would fall within the scope of the proposals.

The Chief Police Officers' Staff Association is a private, voluntary organisation whose activities are entirely financed by membership subscriptions. The levels of those subscriptions are entirely a matter for the internal management of the association, which is not accountable to the Secretary of State. No public funds are provided to CPOSA to support its activities, although its members may claim expenses in relation to their representative functions on the Police Negotiating Board and the Police Advisory Board. The Home Office has allocated £2,000 in 1998–99 to the staff side in respect of expenses in connection with CPOSA's duties as part of the staff side of the Police Negotiating Board.

I have arranged for copies of the accounts for the Association of Chief Police Officers for the years 1992–93 to 1996–97 to be placed in the Library.