• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

That does not get away from the fact that your Government may well be in power but they do not seem to be in control. I thought Governments could change previous Governments' formulae.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

I think there is cross-party support for community policing and getting police out onto the streets of London, and indeed making London a safer place. But I wonder if there is Governmental support for it. There is a lot of hot air and words spoken by this Government about policing in London, but if London was funded at the same level as it was in 1996/97 the Government grant would be some £240 million more than it is now; indeed £54 million is being held back this year. Lord Harris, you know that the Mayor is certainly pressing very hard...

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

There have been similar initiatives to Step Change in the past which I know the Met acknowledged to have failed. Why do you think they failed in the past? What will be different this time?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

• Question by: Len Duvall OBE
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

One of the issues I wanted to raise, and I think Elizabeth Howlett alluded to this, is that there is no commitment for extra beat officers under the Conservative proposals. But what happens if you do strip out resources from some of the essential services, such as the Serious Crime Squad, to fund community policing as Richard Barnes outlined and that we are all meant to be supportive of, although some of us do not want to pay for it?

• Question by: Graham Tope
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

If Step Change is as successful as we all hope it is, then obviously it will create that sort of public demand and the demand to have it spread. Whilst I might share the aspirations of the Chair that this will persuade whoever is in Government to provide additional resources, if they do not " and I have to say there is no indication that they will at this stage " how can we go ahead to meet those public expectations that we helped to create?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

• Question by: Elizabeth Howlett
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

We are not trying to put barriers in the way of Step Change. Like everybody else we think Step Change is an excellent initiative. The barrier is affordability, particularly given the savage cuts the Government has hit all of London's public services with this year. On the issue of affordability, I would like ask two things. Have you had assurance, or even a nod and a wink from Government Ministers, that after next year's pilot which will cost £26.2 million, yes the money would be forthcoming from Government sources? It certainly cannot come from Londoners. As we look forward to...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003

But now the quite considerable sum of £54 million disappears for this year. Furthermore, in the grant settlement this year there is no funding for additional police officers and funding for PCSOs has been cut down to 60% " more money for Londoners to find. I think what you are proposing is a lot of hot air and you are not seeing it through. Is your Government saying that in the year after next they will find some £350 million to support Step Change, or are they saying Londoners will have to do it? And we already pay twice as...

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 10 December 2003