I am most grateful to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for using the rules in a constructive way to allow me to present this petition this evening.

The petition is from my constituent, Mr. Jeremy Small, who is a journalist. The petition concerns the North Yorkshire police budget. The petition, run by Mr. Small’s newspaper, the York Press, has been signed by 1,000 residents of York and North Yorkshire. I shall present those signatures to the Home Secretary, who has kindly agreed to meet me to discuss the issue.

The petition states:

To the House of Commons

The Petition of Mr. Jeremy Small

Declares its concern that the Home Office may reduce its grant to the North Yorkshire Police Force.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Home Secretary to abandon any plans to reduce the grant and to retain adequate funding for the county’s police force to keep crime levels down.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

To lie upon the Table.