Special Constabulary

Mr. Conway
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how funding is distributed for the special constabulary in England and Wales; and whether he has any plans to increase this funding in the near future.

Mr. Peter Lloyd
Expenditure on the special constabulary is a matter for police authorities; all expenditure qualifies for 51 per cent. police grant from the Government.

The Government are also financing a three-year national publicity campaign to aid recruitment. This will start in 1991 at an estimated cost of around £1·5 million a year.