§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police officers in areas other than London receive(a) an additional allowance and (b) weighting allowance. [33121]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 4 February 2002]: Following a recommendation by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), the statutory regulating body for police pay and conditions, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, while Home Secretary, approved an allowance for officers in eight forces surrounding London who were appointed on or after 1 September 1994 and are not in receipt of housing allowance. The allowance was awarded in recognition of the recruitment and retention problems associated with the higher cost of living in the south-east.
Qualifying officers in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Thames Valley receive an additional £2,000 a year, while qualifying officers in Bedfordshire, Hampshire and Sussex receive an additional £1,000 a year.
Police officers in London receive London weighting of £1,773 a year. Police officers in areas other than London do not receive a weighting allowance.