Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Monday, 19 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 January 2006. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 February 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will ensure that each (a) county council and (b) unitary council will continue to be represented by a minimum of one councillor on any new police authority after the merging of forces and authorities; and if he will make a statement;

Answer: In order to discharge their functions effectively I believe strategic authorities should in most cases have a maximum of 23 members (in line with that of the Metropolitan Police Authority). I accept, however, that in some parts of the country, police authorities will need to be larger in order to ensure that all upper tier local authorities are represented. This is particularly important given that police authorities will continue to set a policing precept.Where there are more councillor seats on a strategic police authority than the number of upper tier local authorities, we would expect the additional councillor appointments to reflect, as far as practicable, the political balance of the relevant councils when taken as a whole.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 39599; 442 c1987W;442 c1987W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Councillors Local government Police Police authorities Reorganisation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk