To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions there have been between representatives of her Department and the Chief Constable of Essex Police on the amount spent by (a) Essex and (b) Southend Police on (i) own force investigations, (ii) supervised investigations, (iii) managed investigations and (iv) independent investigations in each of the last three years; what representations she has received since December 2008 on this issue; and if she will make a statement. (275585)

Any visits that are made by Home Office representatives are not recorded centrally, nor have I received any representations on this issue from Essex police since December 2008. The amount Essex police spent on investigations in each of the last three years is a matter for Essex police authority and the chief officer of Essex police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with Essex Police Authority on (a) overspend and (b) underspend by the Authority since July 2008; and if she will make a statement. (275607)

No Home Office Minister has held any discussions with Essex police authority on overspends and underspends since July 2008.

Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief constable of Essex and the police authority. It is a legal requirement for the police authority to set balanced budgets taking into account any use of reserves.