To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has issued guidelines to police authorities on charging for cover during the ambulance dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Guidance was issued in October to chief officers and police authorities on the arrangements which might be made for reimbursement by regional health authorities when the police were called upon to assist in providing an ambulance service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total man hours performed by police personnel involved in ambulance duties in the United Kingdom during the current ambulance workers' dispute.

I understand that the total number of man hours which forces have provided in assisting ambulance services in England and Wales up to and including 13 February has been about 1·1 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of man hours performed by police personnel during the current ambulance workers' dispute in (i) Nottingham, (ii) Manchester, (iii) Essex, (iv) West Yorkshire and (v) Northumbria; and how many of those man hours were paid at overtime rates.

The information requested readily available up to 13 February is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average hourly rate of pay for police personnel employed on ambulance duties during the current ambulance workers' dispute;(2) what is the hourly overtime rate of pay for police constables involved in ambulance duties in (i) Nottingham, (ii) Manchester, (iii) Essex, (iv) west Yorkshire and (v) Northumbria;(3) what is the hourly overtime rate of pay for police personnel of ranks other than constable involved in ambulance duties in (i) Nottingham, (ii) Manchester, (iii) Essex, (iv) west Yorkshire and (v) Northumbria;

Police pay for each rank is on a scale connected to number of years' service. It is not, therefore, possible to give an hourly or overtime rate per officer for each force or nationally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of (a) converting a police van for use in ambulance duties and (b) reconverting a police van after use in ambulance duties.

I understand that in converting vehicles some forces have simply removed seats but others have done more work including the installation of some special equipment. The costs range, therefore, from minimal to several hundred pounds per van.No vans have yet been reconverted.