Police Grant Report

Oliver Dowden Excerpts

Wednesday 5th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I will go on to talk about neighbourhood policing, but all police forces are getting additional money in the police settlement. On the neighbourhood policing money that is being made available, we are working with all police forces so that they come up with plans for how they can best deliver the neighbourhood policing guarantee in their area. I will talk about that in a moment.

[Sir Oliver Dowden (Hertsmere) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way on that point?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I just want to get my next point on to the record, and then I will certainly give way. In 2025-26, overall funding for policing will total up to £19.6 billion. Of that amount, the funding available to police and crime commissioners for their local police forces will be up to £17.5 billion. That is an increase of an additional £1.1 billion for next year, and a 6.6% cash increase. Just so we are all clear, that is £1.1 billion in addition.

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I am happy to give way to the right hon. Member for Hertsmere (Sir Oliver Dowden).

[Sir Oliver Dowden]

Can the Minister, for the benefit of the House, clarify how much of that uplift will be taken up by the increased national insurance contributions that have to be made by police forces as a result of Labour’s policy?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

The national insurance increases that were announced in the Budget are fully funded in the settlement.

I think I saw the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts) rise.