Is that it?

Is that it?

: The hon. Lady has discussed the Liberal Democrat commitment to localism and local people. Will she explain how it squares with the Liberal Democrats’ traditional support for regional government, given that when that concept was put to the vote in the north-east it was destroyed by a margin of...

: The hon. Lady has discussed the Liberal Democrat commitment to localism and local people. Will she explain how it squares with the Liberal Democrats’ traditional support for regional government, given that when that concept was put to the vote in the north-east it was destroyed by a margin of...

I am grateful to the Minister for acknowledging the strength of feeling in the county of Essex. She said that the Government would take advice from the professionals. No doubt they will. Will they also take advice from the most senior police officer in Essex—the chief constable, Roger Baker, who...

I am grateful to the Minister for acknowledging the strength of feeling in the county of Essex. She said that the Government would take advice from the professionals. No doubt they will. Will they also take advice from the most senior police officer in Essex—the chief constable, Roger Baker, who...

When I served as a young officer in the Territorial Army, I learned a bit about morale. One of the great mottoes that was drummed into me as a junior subaltern was, ““If it ain’t broke, sir, don’t fix it.”” Our police force is not broken and it genuinely does...

When I served as a young officer in the Territorial Army, I learned a bit about morale. One of the great mottoes that was drummed into me as a junior subaltern was, ““If it ain’t broke, sir, don’t fix it.”” Our police force is not broken and it genuinely does...

I am enjoying my hon. Friend’s speech. If I may say so, he is making a powerful case. As for the level 2 tasks, I understand that the Government have rejected the so-called federation approach of getting a number of different constabularies in a region to work together to combat...

I am enjoying my hon. Friend’s speech. If I may say so, he is making a powerful case. As for the level 2 tasks, I understand that the Government have rejected the so-called federation approach of getting a number of different constabularies in a region to work together to combat...

I thank my fellow Essex Member of Parliament for giving way and endorse his comments on the future of Essex police. Does he agree that one problem that we have had with internal mergers is the high turnover of BCU commanders and that that does not always make for good...

I thank my fellow Essex Member of Parliament for giving way and endorse his comments on the future of Essex police. Does he agree that one problem that we have had with internal mergers is the high turnover of BCU commanders and that that does not always make for good...

I thank the Home Secretary for his courtesy in giving way again. He has already stressed in his speech the importance of maintaining the support of communities, but is he aware that, with regard to his proposed changes to police forces, all the methods that have been used so far...

I thank the Home Secretary for his courtesy in giving way again. He has already stressed in his speech the importance of maintaining the support of communities, but is he aware that, with regard to his proposed changes to police forces, all the methods that have been used so far...

I am mindful of the guidance that Madam Deputy Speaker has given the House with regard to sub judice and I shall attempt to abide by it. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that when that powerful treaty was put through the House, we accepted it on the basis...

I am mindful of the guidance that Madam Deputy Speaker has given the House with regard to sub judice and I shall attempt to abide by it. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that when that powerful treaty was put through the House, we accepted it on the basis...

I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point, which is entirely right. In most of the examinations carried out by the police, Essex constabulary scores rather highly, so it is not as though the system is broken. The Essex force is not broken and it genuinely...

I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for making that point, which is entirely right. In most of the examinations carried out by the police, Essex constabulary scores rather highly, so it is not as though the system is broken. The Essex force is not broken and it genuinely...

I am delighted to be the fourth Essex Member of Parliament to be called to speak in the debate, following very good speeches by my hon. Friends the Members for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) and for Harwich (Mr. Carswell), and by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay). It is...

I am delighted to be the fourth Essex Member of Parliament to be called to speak in the debate, following very good speeches by my hon. Friends the Members for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) and for Harwich (Mr. Carswell), and by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay). It is...