[Sir Alan Meale in the Chair] — Police Forces

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 10:31 am on 5 July 2011.

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Photo of Aidan Burley Aidan Burley Conservative, Cannock Chase 10:31, 5 July 2011

I was not going to speak this morning, but before the winding-up speeches, I want to respond to a few points that have been raised. Teresa Pearce mentioned the 12% savings suggested by Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary. We can have a political argument about whether cuts should be 12% or 20%, but as many people have asked—certainly in my constituency—if savings of more than £1 billion a year can be so easily identified, why have they not already been made over the past 10 or 15 years? Clearly, there is a lot of fat in the system and savings can be made. An analogy was made between that system and MPs and their researchers, and it was asked how we could do our jobs without back-office staff. Is it suggested that no savings whatsoever can be made? Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary has identified savings of 12%.