§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his response to the request by Cambridgeshire Police Authority for central Government support for the cost of(a) policing animal rights demonstrations during 2001–02, and (b) Operation Fincham in Soham during the current year. [90047]
§ Mr. DenhamMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, approved two special grants on 7 January totalling £4.65 million for the Cambridgeshire constabulary. He has awarded them a grant of £1.1 million for the additional costs of policing demonstrations in connection with Huntingdon Life Sciences in 2001–02. This is in addition to the £1 million special grant the force received in 2000–01.
The police authority has also been given a special grant of £3.55 million as a contribution to the additional costs of Operation Fincham in Soham.
The additional assistance we have provided has been welcomed by the Chairman of the Police Authority (Councillor John Reynolds) and the Chief Constable (Tom Lloyd QPM).