asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total cost to date of giving police protection to the News International plant at Wapping; and if he will give separate figures for the cost of the operation on the night of 24 January.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 February 1987, c. 476]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the additional cost to the Metropolitan police of policing the News International dispute at Wapping, up to and including 31 January 1987, is estimated at £5·7 million. The estimate of the additional cost of the operation on 24 January 1987 is £56,000.