Police: Financial Sustainability Debate

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Department: Home Office

Police: Financial Sustainability

John Bercow Excerpts
Wednesday 12th September 2018

(5 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Well—

Chris Elmore Portrait Chris Elmore
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Two Whips, Mr Speaker.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Indeed. I call Chris Elmore.

Chris Elmore Portrait Chris Elmore
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South Wales police has seen a 30% cut in central Government funding since 2010 and faced a 12% cut overall. Remarkably, that represents only the second smallest set of cuts across the UK, and I am unsure whether the Minister thinks that south Wales MPs should be grateful for that. The reality is that we have a capital city in Cardiff and another large city in Swansea, and major events lead to real-time pressures, but the Government still have not increased budgets. Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael has called for additional funding, because undue pressure is being placed on rural policing and the policing of smaller communities, such as Ogmore.