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22 October 2003

Police Authority Budget 2004/05

Thank you for your recent letter. I fully appreciate your concerns and indeed these have already been bought to my attention. I am seeking to speak in the Queen Speech Debates next month where I will raise the matter of funding for Thames Valley in general, and North Oxfordshire in particular. In the meantime, I will ask some parliamentary questions on this matter and will let you have Minister's responses just as soon as I am able.

I think what makes the funding of Thames Valley increasingly frustrating is that I remember Ministers telling the House of Commons in 2002 that the Home Secretary's funding formula was not only "fair" but meant Thames Valley was the big winner of almost all Police Forces. I am aware that many Labour Members, for example Martin Salter, have been particularly vocal about the funding gap that Thames Valley is experiencing and it may well be that Members have to make a joint representation to Ministers.

Tony Baldry