§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police helicopter sorties were made in each of the last five years, broken down by police force; and what the annual cost was to each police force. [93306]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 39 police forces in England and Wales currently operate an Air Support Unit and the Home Office allocates grant of £4 million a year between forces as a contribution towards the capital cost of this facility. The remaining capital and operating costs are met by the police forces themselves.