Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual cost of the National Police Air Service has been since 2012.
The running costs of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) are met by forces themselves. The NPAS Strategic Board, made up of Police and Crime Commissioners and chief constables, agrees how NPAS is financed and operated to meet the needs of all forces. In 2013/14, the Home Office made a £3.75 million one-off contribution to address a deficit in NPAS revenue budget. The Home Office has provided Capital Grant to NPAS in the following years:
2012/13 – £10.8 million
2013/14 – £13 million
2014/15 – £8.6 million (based on current estimates)
In addition the Home Office made capital payments direct to contractors for the building costs of Bournemouth Airbase (£0.3 million in 13/14 and £1.6 million in 14/15).