asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what calculation he has made of the manpower and cost implications for the police of his circular 54/1982 on consultation between the county and the police and of his letter and guidelines on the same subject to local authorities in the Metropolitan Police district.

The pattern of consultation arrangements is likely to vary between or within police force areas, depending on local needs and the frequency of meetings. It is, therefore, not possible to quantify the likely manpower and cost implications. Consultation will involve the time of some police officers and administrative support but, as the guidelines make clear, this is likely to be relatively small.