HC Deb 26 April 1999 vol 330 cc69-70W
12. Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss police manpower. [80961]

Kate Hoey

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary meets the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers regularly both at the Home Office and at police events when a range of issues are discussed, including police resources.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in(a) England and (b) Wales he expects to be in post at the end of the current financial year. [80959]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The available information is given in the table. Decisions on asylum applications may not relate to the same cases within each period.

Kate Hoey

The number of police officers in each force is entirely a matter for local determination on the basis of available resources and spending priorities. In 1999–2000, police authority budgets in England and Wales will increase on average by 3.1 per cent. over last year. These increases, along with the 2 per cent. efficiency improvement targets that have been set, should be sufficient to maintain existing levels of service.