asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are currently being taken to increase police recruiting in England and Wales.

In order to improve the attractiveness of the police service to well-qualified young people, the Police Advisory Board has recently agreed that the minimum age of recruitment should be reduced to 18½. I intend to bring this into effect on 1st July. During the next few weeks the national recruiting campaign, which is continuing at a high level, will draw particular attention to this change.