To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of policing (a) the Iraq demonstration on 15 February and (b) the last Countryside Rally in London. [101145]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the total cost of policing the 'Stop the war' demonstration on 15 February was £965,238 and the total cost of policing the Countryside Alliance Mass Lobby of Parliament on 16 December 2002 was £163,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on administration by each English police authority in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [99880]

The information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are in each police force area in England and Wales; and how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff there were in England and Wales in each year since 1996. [100803]

The information requested is provided in the tables. By 31 March 2002, police service strength had reached the record number of 129,603, on track for the Government's targets of 130,000 by March 2003 and 132,500 in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations have been made by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary on the optimum number of probationers as a proportion of overall office numbers within a police force. [100690]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) officers, (b) constables and (c) police area constables were probationers in each police force in each year since 1998–99. [100730]

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has provided the information in the table. Police area constable is not a recognised category. The proportion of probationers has been rising as a consequence of the very substantial increase in recruitment that began in 2000–01. As a result of that increased recruitment, by 31 March 2002, police service strength had reached the record number of 129,603, on track for the Government's targets of 130,000 by March 2003 and 132,500 in 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of employing, training and developing a probationary police constable in the last year for which figures are available. [100731]

No central records are kept of the overall cost of employing, training and developing a police officer, which is the responsibility of the Chief Officer of each force.However, when payment rates were agreed for new recruits to be taken on through the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) provision was made for pay-related costs, recruitment and for the residential element of foundation training. The current CFF payment rates are set out in the table. This does not account for the full cost of training and developing a probationary constable.