Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Luciana Berger Excerpts
Thursday 3rd November 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Luciana Berger Portrait Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op)
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This week, Merseyside police announced that it is having to cut 250 officers over the course of the next two years because of the Government’s slashing of its budget. Deputy Chief Constable Bernard Lawson has admitted that there will be an impact on the service that the force is able to provide for my constituents and all the people of Merseyside. May we have an urgent debate on the impact that the Government’s spending cuts are having on front-line policing?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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The hon. Lady will remember that, before the last election, the then Home Secretary made it clear that if he and his party were re-elected, they would not be able to guarantee that there would be no reductions in the number of front-line officers. It is the view of the Government that it is possible for police authorities to cope with the budgets they have been allocated and protect the effectiveness and visibility of front-line policing.