§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to provide to police authorities funding towards the cost of the implementation of the Public Safety Radio Communications Project from the proceeds of any sale of existing radio frequencies; [84490]
(2) what plans he has to provide capital funding support to police authorities towards the cost of implementing the Public Safety Radio Communications Project; [84489]
(3) what assessment he has made of the commercial value of the radio frequencies currently used by the Police Service and which will become surplus on the implementation of the Public Safety Radio Communications Project. [84488]
§ Mr. BoatengThe radio spectrum currently used by the police service is not the property of the Home Office. The current plan is that when the Public Safety Radio Communications Project (PSRCP) is fully implemented372W and the police service has migrated to the new spectrum allocated for this, the existing spectrum will be surrendered to the national pool. It will be for the Department of Trade and Industry to decide on its future use.
Under the Government's spending plans, capital funding for the police is set to remain at £144 million for 3 years until 2001–02. This provides stability after 4 successive years of cuts. The Government have also relaxed the rules on the use of capital receipts from the sale of assets. Police authorities now have freedom to use all proceeds from sales for capital investment.
The scope for additional funding for PSRCP is under consideration.