Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Home Secretary on police funding to tackle gun crime and serious and organised crime across Merseyside.

The allocation of police funding between forces is led by the Home Office, and Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for making decisions about how this funding is used to best address local needs. We have protected overall police spending in real terms. Since 2015 Police and Crime Commissioners will see their budgets maintained at cash levels so long as local council tax precept is maximised.