Written question asked by David Davis (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 April 2006. It was answered by Charles Clarke (Labour) on Thursday, 4 May 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police Restructuring

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role his Department will play in the appointment of members of the new merged Yorkshire police authority.

Answer: We envisage that any order made under section 32 of the Police Act 1996 amalgamating the Humberside, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire police areas would provide for each of the four precursor police authorities to appoint a specified number of their members to be members of the combined police authority. As such, there would be no role for the Home Secretary. The precise terms of the order are the subject of ongoing discussions with the police authorities concerned. The making of such an order is subject to our consideration of any objections received in response to the notice given by the Home Secretary of his intention to amalgamate the four forces.

Secondary information