Mr Leslie Huckfield: Will the Minister say what the policy of his Department is towards senior members of the Metropolitan Police holding an off-the-record Press conference advocating stronger law enforcement?
Mr Robert Carr: As I said earlier, I very much welcome the new attitude of the Police Federation about differentials for the Metropolitan Police. The initiative rests with the Police Council. I repeat that no one's pay in this country can be settled without regard to the pay policy.
Mr John Biggs-Davison: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make it his policy not to permit any erosion of the Metropolitan Green Belt within the new Epping Forest district of Essex.
Mr Alf Morris: The right hon. Gentleman has acknowledged the gravity of the manpower situation in the Metropolitan Police force. Will he now say what in his view is the earliest date by which the Police Federation's claim for a differential increase in pay for London policemen can be settled within the terms of the Government's policy?
Mr Victor Goodhew: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he has made to discuss his policy on the metropolitan green belt with the Hertfordshire County Council.
Mr Michael Latham: Does the Secretary of State accept the policy of his predecessor that 2,000 acres of what one might call "scruffy" metropolitan green belt should be released as quickly as possible?
Mr Roy Jenkins: The Metropolitan Police has told the firm that it is its policy to advise members of the public against carrying any form of device for protection purposes.
Mr John MacGregor: asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in the light of recent developments in Government policy on metropolitan areas, he will reconsider the need for a further review of the Civil Service dispersal proposals following the Hardman Report.
Mr John Fraser: Is the Secretary of State aware that the Metropolitan Police have been obliged to buy their overcoats from West Germany as a result of the EEC supplies directive? Will he renegotiate that directive, so that public sector purchasing policy can at least ensure help for the British industries that need extra orders?
Mr Leon Brittan: There is not a practical problem unless and until the Metropolitan Police reach their establishment level. There is not much point in our doing anything other than assisting and encouraging them to continue their successful recruitment policy within the present establishment.
Mr Alfred Dubs: What specific steps does the Home Secretary intend to adopt, if he has not already taken them, to ensure, especially in the Metropolitan area, better relationships between the police and local communities and to ensure that local communities have more influence on the policing policies pursued in their areas?
Mr David Howell: All county and metropolitan councils have been asked to submit their transport policies and programme documents by the end of July.
Mr Patrick Jenkin: I pay tribute to the way in which Bradford metropolitan district council has made strenuous efforts to meet the Government's targets and to comply with the Government's policy on public expenditure. The councillors deserve every credit for what they are doing. I shall consider how swiftly we can respond 10 the approaches mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.
Mr David Waddington: I think that the hon. Gentleman is referring to a report by the Policy Studies Institute. I remind him that it is greatly to the credit of the Metropolitan police that it should have commissioned such a report. A number of matters raised in that report have already led to action.
Robert Wareing: ...Secretary of State's reservations about the Glaister model, as the Department has been using it, that would seem to illustrate the Department's belief in an integrated road and passenger transport policy. Is not the Secretary of State worried that the abolition of the metropolitan counties will break that vital link?
Mr Peter Fry: If that is the case, why is it the Government's current policy to keep local involvement in the passenger transport executives when the metropolitan counties are abolished? There is a local government input to those bodies.
John Prescott: I have listened with care to the interesting statement just made by the Secretary of State. Has this policy been adopted because those airports cannot be sold to the private sector, or because the Secretary of State recognises that public money will have to be used to maintain loss-making airports in metropolitan areas?
Mr Peter Fry: Does my right hon. Friend accept that many of those in transport circles welcome his decision? Will he answer one question arising from the abolition of the metropolitan county councils? How will he ensure that successor district councils in south Yorkshire do not follow the current profligate policies of the county council in transport matters?
Mr David Mitchell: Out of a population of over 4 million in Yorkshire, I have received around 30 representations on the main bus policy and about 20 representations specifically on our proposals for taxis. These include representations from North Yorkshire county council and the two metropolitan county councils.
Mr Eddie Loyden: Does my hon. Friend recall the way in which the large stores in the city reacted commendably when increased trade was brought about the greater mobility of people caused by the metropolitan county council adopting a "fares fair" policy?
