This Government is committed to ensuring strong leadership at all levels in policing and is driving forward improvements to ensure consistent and high standards in leadership training.

I am pleased to say that the College of Policing has recently completed a full independent review of progression and development to chief officer ranks (2022) and has developed proposals for fundamental change to the current system, which are currently being implemented. This, alongside the National Centre for Police Leadership, has introduced a focus on developing all officers as leaders alongside faster time work to ensure that current chief officer vacancies can be filled. The College has a clear plan for a complete reform of senior leadership development, to improve standards and leadership at all levels in policing.

This work will implement a nationally consistent approach to police leadership for the first time, following previous work by the College and Chief Constables to address issues and concerns identified across various reviews. These include: Front Line Review (2018), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reports including a leadership thematic in 2019, and the College of Policing Leadership Review (2015). In particular, HMICFRS’ ‘Leading Lights’ Report found that a lack of consistency, fairness and transparency is having a detrimental effect on police forces’ ability to identify and support those with the most potential to become chief officers. The Fundamental Review of the College of Policing (2022) established improving leadership in policing as one of the College’s three key priorities and a new National Centre for Police Leadership is being created.

The College of Policing was established in 2012 as the professional body for policing, to set and improve standards for excellence, including recruitment, leadership, professional development and assessment. The College succeeded the organisations that had previously had responsibility for these functions, including the National Policing Improvement Agency, which had previously incorporated the Police Staff College.

The College has prioritised improvements to leadership training as part of its National Centre for Police Leadership. This includes setting standards for all levels of leadership and providing a host of guidance, resources and training to support development for everyone in policing.  The College also supports the progression of officers for senior leadership roles through providing ongoing development and access to executive coaching and mentoring.

The Government has been clear that strong leadership at all ranks is essential to ensure a positive culture and rigorous standards in policing. Failures of integrity within policing impact on public confidence and recent revelations rightly raise questions about the quality and standards of leadership in the police. We will continue pushing for improvements in standards, expectations, and outcomes for policing, but the drive must also come from within forces.

We have invested £3.35m from 2021 to 2023 for the College of Policing to create a National Leadership Centre. As part of this, the College is now in the process of setting and rolling out national leadership standards at key levels in the police service and providing leadership development programmes aligned to these standards.

We also welcome the College’s proposals for fundamental change to the current system of chief officer selection and development, following a full independent review. These measures are currently being implemented and will increase transparency and open up access to senior level development.

The College of Policing was set up in 2012 to set and improve standards for excellence in policing, including recruitment, leadership, professional development and assessment.

The College’s role is clear: setting high professional standards sharing what works best; acting as the national voice of policing; and ensuring professional development and police leadership are of the highest quality and that they uphold the highest ethics.

There are no plans to re-establish the old Police Staff College.

The Department for Transport conducts expert assessments on aviation security at overseas airports. We do not assess the impact on the tourism and airline industries of any restrictions on flights.

Following the crash of Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 in October 2015, FCO travel advice was changed to advise against all but essential travel by air between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh. We fully recognise that Egypt is an important partner for the UK and tourism to Sharm delivers a sizeable contribution to Egypt’s economy. UK aviation security experts have worked closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. We continue to work in partnership in a spirit of cooperation, and are grateful for Egypt's close engagement and partnership. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security environment can be sustained. We recognise that UK carriers previously found the route commercially attractive, though this does not necessarily mean that this will, at least initially, be the case once flights are able to return.

UK aviation security experts have worked closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. We continue to work in partnership in a spirit of cooperation, and are grateful for Egypt's close engagement and partnership. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security environment can be sustained.

The Home Office has calculated the total salary costs of constables on the pay scale in place since April 2013. These include the employers’ portion of National Insurance and pension contributions and the London Weighting payment where applicable. At pay point 4, which typically approximates to four years service, the cost would be £36,900 in London and £33,700 in other forces.

Police officers may receive other allowances and overtime which are not captured in these costs. These include London and South East Allowances which may be paid annually to officers in London and some South East forces at a level set by the relevant chief officer, to meet recruitment and retention needs. These allowances are capped at the following levels: In London, at a maximum of £4,338 per officer; in Bedfordshire, Hampshire and Sussex at a maximum of £1,000 per officer; and in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and Thames Valley at a maximum of £2,000 per officer.

Four years’ service may not be equivalent to being at pay point four. The general expectation is that officers will progress up the scale by one pay point every 12 months subject to satisfactory performance, but there may be variations to this. A constable with four years service is likely to fall between pay point three and pay point five. These are shown in the table below:

Notes:

(1) The employers’ portion of pension contributions has been calculated at a rate of 21.3%.

(2) The employers’ portion of National Insurance contributions has been calculated at a rate of 13.8% on earnings above the secondary threshold. NI employer contribution has been calculated using the new contribution due to the Single Tier Pension (Introduced in April 2016).

(3) London Weighting is a pensionable payment, and applies to all officers working in London forces.

(4) An officer may be appointed at pay point 1 rather than pay point 0 if they possess a Policing Qualification or relevant experience. An officer appointed at pay point 0 will move to pay point 1 on completion of initial training.

Under the voluntary agreemment with the National Housing Federation, there would be a presumption that housing associations would sell the tenant the property in which they live, but there would be some broad circumstances where a housing association could exercise discretion to decline a sale. These circumstances include properties held in the Communities Land Trust.

The College of Policing has already begun implementing the fast track to inspector scheme, along with direct entry at superintendent rank, as
recommended in the final report of the Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions. Police forces have started to recruit external candidates to be appointed in September. Serving officers will be able to apply for the schemes later this year.These schemes will offer the opportunity to widen the talent pool and the diverse range of backgrounds from which we attract police officers.

From autumn 2014 the police will, for the first time, have the opportunity to bring in talented and experienced leaders from other walks of life to senior ranks and, through the fast-track to inspector scheme, attract top graduates to policing. The College of Policing will provide those individuals with world-class training. We have committed to funding a cadre of new direct-entrant superintendents from this autumn until spring 2018. Those coming in will bring a fresh perspective and will open up policing culture.

I also refer the noble Lord to the written statement by the Minister of Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Damian Green on 14 October 2013, Official Report, columns 39-40 WS

From autumn 2014 the police will, for the first time, have the opportunity to bring in talented and experienced leaders from other walks of life to senior ranks and, through the fast-track to inspector scheme, attract top graduates to policing. The College of Policing will provide those individuals with world-class training. We have committed to funding a cadre of new direct-entrant superintendents from this autumn until spring 2018. Those coming in will bring a fresh perspective and will open up policing culture.

I also refer the noble Lord to the written statement by the Minister of Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Damian Green on 14 October 2013, Official Report, columns 39-40 WS

From autumn 2014 the police will, for the first time, have the opportunity to bring in talented and experienced leaders from other walks of life to senior ranks and, through the fast-track to inspector scheme, attract top graduates to policing. The College of Policing will provide those individuals with world-class training. We have committed to funding a cadre of new direct-entrant superintendents from this autumn until spring 2018. Those coming in will bring a fresh perspective and will open up policing culture.

I also refer the noble Lord to the written statement by the Minister of Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Damian Green on 14 October 2013, Official Report, columns 39-40 WS

The police are not a regulator. Therefore, regulatory functions carried out by them, including firearms licensing, will not be included in the Regulators' Code.

The table below gives details of the appointment of Chairmen since May 2005.

The maximum any Chair can serve under the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments is ten years.

I would expect there to be new Chair appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies between 2013 and 2020. However, some of our bodies are expected to be abolished as a result of public bodies' reform.

The table below gives details of the appointment of Chairmen since May 2005.

The maximum any Chair can serve under the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments is ten years.

I would expect there to be new Chair appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies between 2013 and 2020. However, some of our bodies are expected to be abolished as a result of public bodies' reform.

There have been Board member appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies since May 2005. The following list covers all public bodies and a link to their websites has been included, where information on board membership and current details can be found.

It would be of disproportionate cost to list all appointees for each body and which year the board member was appointed.

I expect that there will be new board appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies between 2013 and 2020.

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/acp/acp-committee-information/members-of-the-advisory-committee-on-pesticides-2012

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

http://www.defra.gov.uk/acre/about/membership/

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

http://www.ahdb.org.uk/about/documents/AHDBboardandsectorboardmembersApril2013.pdf

Broads Authority

http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/about-us/membership.html

Conservation Board for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/board-members.html

Conservation Board for the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=BoardMembers

Consumer Council for Water

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.41

Covent Garden Market Authority

http://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/board

Dartmoor National Park Authority

http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/aboutus/au-theauthority/au-members/au-listofmembers-2

Environment Agency

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/35669.aspx

Exmoor National Park Authority

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/about-us/members

Forestry Commissioners

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/commissioners

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

http://gla.defra.gov.uk/PageFiles/921/Gangmasters%20Licensing%20Authority%20Board% 20members.pdf

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5349

Lake District National Park Authority

http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/aboutus/members

Marine Management Organisation

http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/board_members.htm

National Forest Company

http://www.nationalforest.org/about_us/organise/

Natural England

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/ourpeople/neboard/default.aspx

New Forest National Park Authority

http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/info/20012/our_people/79/members

North York Moors National Park Authority

http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/living-in/how-the-authority-works/the-members

Northumberland National Park Authority

http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/lookingafter/nationalparkorganisation/memberscommittees/members

Peak District National Park Authority

http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/members

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

http://www.kew.org/about-kew/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/index.htm

Science Advisory Council

http://www.defra.gov.uk/sac/about-us/members/

Sea Fish Industry Authority

http://www.seafish.org/about-seafish/our-structure/meet-the-team

South Downs National Park Authority

http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/about-us/about-the-authority/members

Veterinary Products Committee

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/vpc/membership/members.aspx

Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aboutofwat/structure/organisation/

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/national parkauthority/aboutthenationalparkauthority/whoisintheauthority/members

These bodies do not have websites:

Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

Agricultural Wages Committees for England

Committee on Agricultural Valuation

Food from Britain

Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel

Some Internal Drainage Boards do have their own websites, these can be found by using the search facility on the Association of Drainage Authorities website http://www.ada.org.uk/idb_members_map.html

There have been Board member appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies since May 2005. The following list covers all public bodies and a link to their websites has been included, where information on board membership and current details can be found.

It would be of disproportionate cost to list all appointees for each body and which year the board member was appointed.

I expect that there will be new board appointments to all of Defra’s public bodies between 2013 and 2020.

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/advisory-groups/acp/acp-committee-information/members-of-the-advisory-committee-on-pesticides-2012

Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment

http://www.defra.gov.uk/acre/about/membership/

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

http://www.ahdb.org.uk/about/documents/AHDBboardandsectorboardmembersApril2013.pdf

Broads Authority

http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/about-us/membership.html

Conservation Board for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

http://www.chilternsaonb.org/conservation-board/board-members.html

Conservation Board for the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=BoardMembers

Consumer Council for Water

http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.41

Covent Garden Market Authority

http://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/board

Dartmoor National Park Authority

http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/aboutus/au-theauthority/au-members/au-listofmembers-2

Environment Agency

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/35669.aspx

Exmoor National Park Authority

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/about-us/members

Forestry Commissioners

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/commissioners

Gangmasters Licensing Authority

http://gla.defra.gov.uk/PageFiles/921/Gangmasters%20Licensing%20Authority%20Board% 20members.pdf

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5349

Lake District National Park Authority

http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/aboutus/members

Marine Management Organisation

http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/about/board_members.htm

National Forest Company

http://www.nationalforest.org/about_us/organise/

Natural England

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/ourpeople/neboard/default.aspx

New Forest National Park Authority

http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/info/20012/our_people/79/members

North York Moors National Park Authority

http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/living-in/how-the-authority-works/the-members

Northumberland National Park Authority

http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/lookingafter/nationalparkorganisation/memberscommittees/members

Peak District National Park Authority

http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/members

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

http://www.kew.org/about-kew/who-we-are/board-of-trustees/index.htm

Science Advisory Council

http://www.defra.gov.uk/sac/about-us/members/

Sea Fish Industry Authority

http://www.seafish.org/about-seafish/our-structure/meet-the-team

South Downs National Park Authority

http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/about-us/about-the-authority/members

Veterinary Products Committee

http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/vpc/membership/members.aspx

Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aboutofwat/structure/organisation/

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/national parkauthority/aboutthenationalparkauthority/whoisintheauthority/members

These bodies do not have websites:

Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees

Agricultural Wages Committees for England

Committee on Agricultural Valuation

Food from Britain

Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel

Some Internal Drainage Boards do have their own websites, these can be found by using the search facility on the Association of Drainage Authorities website http://www.ada.org.uk/idb_members_map.html

The first set of revised chapters was published in December 2012. We are consulting on the revision of the remaining guidance and plan to issue the revised guidance in stages during 2013.

The Government will be publishing the chapters of the revised guidance in batches. The Government have been consulting with interested parties and are carefully considering their comments on the first set of revised chapters, which will be published within two to three months.

HM Treasury has not provided any specific advice to the Home Office or the Health and Safety Executive on the manner in which fees charged by the police for the grant or renewal of certificates or other authorities under the Firearms Acts or Explosives Regulations should be calculated.

Guidance on fees and charges is contained in HM Treasury's publication Managing Public Money¹, a document which sets out the main principles for dealing with resources used by public sector organisations in the UK.¹ http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_mpm_index.htm.