§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide additional funding for the Metropolitan Police in order to meet the exceptional requirements for security in the capital arising from the war in Iraq and associated terrorist threats. [106105]
§ Mr. Blunkett[holding answer 31 March 2003]Additional funding of £47 million will be made available to the Metropolitan Police in 2003–04 as part of their settlement to provide an enhanced counter-terrorism policing capability in the capital. This funding will allow the Metropolitan Police to continue to support the additional 689 officer posts and 112 supporting civilian posts which were funded in 2002–03. These officers will be deployed across a range of activities associated with security and counter-terrorism. A further £15 million is being allocated in 2003–04 to fund 500 Community Support Officers. The extra funding referred to is in addition to normal and pre-existing funding streams for 449W security and counter-terrorism work. This is in addition to the increase of 5.2 per cent. in police grant for the Metropolitan Police for 2003–04.