To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials have been working on the potential merger of the Wales police forces since 1 September 2005, broken down by grade; and how much time each spent on the project. (86165)

Since September 2005 there has been a team of approximately 10 FTE civil servants and seconded police staff working in the Home Office on police force mergers. Precise numbers and grades have fluctuated.

It is not possible to quantify how much of their time has been devoted solely to the merger of Welsh police forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs have been incurred by each (a) police force and (b) police authority in connection with the police merger proposals in Wales. (86166)

This is a matter for the police forces and police authorities concerned and the information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the Chief Constable for West Mercia to discuss his concerns over the proposed merger of West Mercia Police Authority with others in the West Midlands. (74338)

I met the Chief Constable of West Mercia Police Force and the Chair of West Mercia Police Authority on 5 June 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation his Department held with hon. Members from (a) Lancashire and (b) Cumbria before a decision was made not to assist with the harmonisation of council tax levels should the merger of Lancashire and Cumbria police take place. (86378)

No discussions have been held with hon. Members on this specific question.

Policy on council tax is decided by the Government collectively.