Policing and Crime Bill
12:00 pm
David Ruffley (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Bury St Edmunds, Conservative)
In using the words “master plan” I was not luring you into a trap, Minister. I did not mean to be pejorative. I wanted to ask whether there was something more structured than just the voluntary ad hoc collaboration arrangements that we have had up to now. Behind these clauses is the recognition by the Home Office and the observation of outsiders that voluntary collaboration does not work. It does not get enough collaboration quickly enough. You are speeding that up and facilitating it. It therefore follows logically that if the voluntary arrangements are not satisfactory after the strategic merger debate—and they have not been—the Home Office might want to force the pace. In my view, it would be right to do that. I think that you have answered the question, but I want to know whether you are aware of any work that seeks to mandate a master plan or a structured plan for England and Wales.