§ Mr. Boris JohnsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision the Government have made for long-term police housing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [6098]
§ Mr. DenhamIt is a matter for individual Police Authorities to determine the number and location of police houses in their force area.
Under the Government's Starter Home Initiative nearly 900 police officers/police civilians, of whom 340 are outside the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London, will benefit from £230 million allocated to 95 schemes to help them buy their first home. The forces that will benefit from the scheme are set out in the table.
Force Number of homes for police officers/police civilians Metropolitan and City 552 Thames Valley 171 Hampshire 48 Sussex 25 Surrey 24 Cambridgeshire 25 Hertfordshire 47 A further 220 police officers are expected to benefit from a £20 million scheme to provide interest free equity loans of £10,000. This will be available in housing hotspots outside London.