(Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr) (Ind): Will the Minister comment on capital
investment support for police forces? My understanding is that
the new joint firearms unit between Dyfed-Powys, Gwent
and South Wales
Police will cost around £40 million, and that has
largely been funded out of reserves. Clearly, that is not
sustainable.
The Minister for Crime and Policing (): Having been, effectively, a police and crime
commissioner in the past, I must tell the hon. Gentleman that the
removal of the distinction between capital and revenue receipts
and spending would have been a blessed relief. In the old days of
local government restrictions in that regard, in the police and
in local authorities, there was an entire science devoted to the
creation of capital as revenue and the conversion of revenue into
capital, to get round the Treasury rules, but we have done away
with that division now. [Interruption.] Of course, as a chartered
accountant, I feel slightly bereft, having been put out of
business. It was quite an art form, which was very satisfying to
achieve...
(Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney)
(Lab): I want to start by paying tribute to the officers and
civilian staff in both police forces that cover my
constituency: South Wales
Police and Gwent police. I also pay tribute to the
wider police family. I was fortunate enough a few years ago to
take part in the police parliamentary scheme, and I did some
shifts with the Met here in London. I know that we are all
grateful for the dedication and professionalism of all our police
officers right across the country...
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