§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of police numbers in Somerset in March 2001; and if he will make a statement. [121227]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand from the Chief Constable that he currently projects 3,030 officers available for ordinary duty at the end of March 2001 for the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. The Chief Constable is unable to provide a figure for only Somerset. He distributes resources between the eight territorial divisions according to need and operational priorities.
§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions about the adequacy of central Government support for policing in Somerset he has reached on the basis of recent research commissioned by his Department into the costs of policing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [121226]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 21 February 2000,Official Report, columns 118–19W.