Police Funding Formula Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Police Funding Formula

Julie Cooper Excerpts
Monday 9th November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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Although I cannot comment on exactly how Hampshire will be funded with the new formula, or what it will get in December, may I congratulate it not only on having excellent MPs who have bent my ear extensively over the past couple of weeks—MPs from across the House have done so as well—but on forward thinking and working with the other emergency services brilliantly well? That is something on which other forces from across the country could think.

Julie Cooper Portrait Julie Cooper (Burnley) (Lab)
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I welcome the Minister’s apology and his decision to suspend the formula while the correct figures are being calculated. Given the scale of the error—last week Lancashire was due to lose £25 million and today it is due to gain £16 million—does he now acknowledge that Lancashire constabulary was right to maintain reserves to plan prudently for the future?

Mike Penning Portrait Mike Penning
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I think that I agree with most of what the hon. Lady said, but it is an issue that, in the 43 authorities of England and Wales, there are reserves of £2.1 billion.