Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Herbert of South Downs and Patrick Mercer

Monday 6th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Mercer (Newark) (Con)]

I am sure that my right hon. Friend would like to congratulate the large number of regular police officers and police community support officers who have responded, often unpaid, to the crises of the past few weeks, including the bomb at east midlands airport, the violence here in Westminster and so on. In view of the spending review, how will we cope in future with the need for surging officers when those occasions occur?

[Nick Herbert]

As my hon. Friend knows, we prioritise counter-terrorism funding to policing, and it has received a measure of protection in the funding settlement. We will, of course, continue to prioritise it.