To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he makes of the needs of the police force when allocating resources within his departmental budget. [15801]

The Government's overall aim is to ensure that the police have adequate resources to play their key part in cutting and preventing crime. In assessing the spending needs of the police we take into account, amongst other considerations, the budget pressures identified by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities.