asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Greater Manchester police authority's proposals to increase its establishment of policemen and police officers.

The Greater Mandiescer police authority has not yet submitted specific proposals for increasing the establishment of the force. The detailed study of the chief constable's review of organisation and establishment is continuing and is likely to take some months to complete. On 30th September there were 473 vacancies. The present establishment does not therefore constitute a restraint on recruitment.