§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources he has made available to the Metropolitan Police to ensure public safety and public order and to prevent crime at the time of the Millennium celebrations; and if he will make a statement. [69609]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe need to make adequate provision for both planned and contingency policing related to the Millennium celebrations in London is being taken fully into account in budget estimates for the 93W Metropolitan Police, for 1999–2000, which the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District in consultation with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, is preparing for the Home Secretary's approval.
My right hon. Friend announced, in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears) on 2 December 1998, Official Report, columns 194–97, that the Metropolitan Police should continue to receive additional funding in recognition of its distinct national and capital city functions which, in the next financial year, include policing related to Millennium celebrations; that he proposes that a special payment should therefore be made to the Metropolitan Police over and above that available through the principal police grant formula; and that he has set the amount of this special payment at £176 million. My right hon. Friend announced a funding allocation of £1,744 million for the Metropolitan Police for 1999–2000 in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, West (Mr. Salter), Official Report, columns 618–19. The final grant allocations for 1999–2000 as set out in the Police Grant Report, including the additional special payment of £176 million for the Metropolitan Police, were approved by the House on 4 February.