Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Sharon Hodgson and Lord Herbert of South Downs(13 years, 3 months ago)
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Nick Herbert
I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman says. We have to deal with a budget deficit bequeathed to us by the previous Government. The police service spends some £13 billion a year, and it can contribute to the savings that have to be made. Those on the Labour Benches have conceded that police forces can save more than £1 billion a year without affecting the front line.
Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab)
14. What funding her Department will make available during the spending review period for the implementation of family intervention projects.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Sharon Hodgson and Lord Herbert of South Downs(13 years, 5 months ago)
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Nick Herbert
First, I should say to the hon. Gentleman that our intention is that directly elected police and crime commissioners should cost no more than existing police authorities. Of course there will be a cost for elections once every four years—an average of £12 million a year, which is less than 0.1% of the national policing budget. We are determined to do everything we can to protect front-line policing and the number of police community support officers. We think they do a very valuable job in our communities.
Mrs Hodgson
As the Minister is no doubt aware, Northumbria police force, which covers my constituency, has recently confirmed that it is to make 450 civilian staff redundant immediately and it is imposing a recruitment freeze on all front-line posts, all because of the cuts made by the Home Secretary. Does the Minister think that those cuts to front-line policing will make my constituents safer?