"GET ON WITH IT" SAYS CAMBRIDGE MP ON POLICE FUNDING - HOWARTH

3.38.00pm GMT Tue 5th Feb 2008

Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge David Howarth has said that the Government is acting too slowly on police funding.

Mr Howarth asked the Minister for Policing whether there would be improvements in police funding in Cambridge over the next three years. Mr Howarth reminded him that given the rapid population increase, the situation in Cambridgeshire would become intolerable if no changes were made.

The Minister replied he was open to changes to the funding formulae but said any changes might take a few years.

Mr Howarth commented on the Minister's response:

"I am glad that the Minister recognises the problem, but the Government is acting too slowly. We need concrete measures taken to improve police funding in Cambridgeshire and we need them soon."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.The Local Government Finance Settlement set a fixed 2.5% increase of police funding over the next three years with no obvious room for changes.

2.The Settlement was approved in the House of Commons yesterday (Feb. 4th)