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Business of the House

I will not set out again the process points that I raised earlier, but the hon. Gentleman will know that the deadline of 23 December was set so as to allow voluntary amalgamation where police forces thought that it was in their interests to save costs, for example, by amalgamating backroom office functions and ensuring that there was a range of extra equipment across larger police organisations. That is all set out in the inspector’s report, which I am sure that he has read in detail, and which is about a recommendation from senior police officers that there is a necessity—an absolute requirement—to improve the equipment and facilities available to our police forces across the country, and that must after all be in the interests of our constituents. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will look at the report and contribute to the debate on 19 December, when I shall take careful note of whether all the colleagues who called for the debate are in the Chamber to participate, as it is important that Members have the opportunity to set out their views. This process is in the interests of our constituents and to their benefit. That is why leading police officers have put it forward.