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By Ned Simons - 17th November 2010
Harriet Harman has urged David Cameron to ditch his plan to introduce elected police commissioners as police forces face 20 per cent cuts to their budgets.
Standing in for Ed Miliband at prime minister's questions today, Labour's deputy leader said money would be better spent on keeping more police officers on the streets.
"Can you explain why you are spending what the Association of Police Authorities say is £100 million creating new, elected police commissioners at the same time as cutting police numbers?" she asked.
But Cameron defended the proposals, which he said brought much needed democracy to policing.
"It's about time that we had more accountable police forces in our country," he said.
"Democracy is a great thing, we all think in here. What about a bit of democracy in policing as well?"
And he said it was up to individual police forces to make sure they "maximised the resources" on the frontline in a time of financial restraint.
"What we said in the spending review is it is possible to keep the high level of visibility and activity of police on our streets," he said.
"That is the challenge to every police force in our country and I think, when you look across police forces and you see how many officers there are in HR and in IT and in back office functions, I think we can succeed in this."
The exchanges were prompted by Manchester's chief constable Peter Fahy, who has said he expects to lose 1,377 police officer posts as a result of budget cuts over the next four years.
Cameron also seized on the opportunity to attack Labour's new shadow chancellor Alan Johnson, sat next to Harman, over comments he made about police numbers.
During the election campaign the then home secretary had said he could not promise police numbers would remain the same if Labour was re-elected.
Asked by the BBC whether he could guarantee police numbers would not fall he replied simply "no".
The prime minister began the session by paying tribute to a soldier who died in Afghanistan and welcomed the announcement of the engagement of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
"It is wonderful news and we look forward to the wedding itself," he said.
Mark Lancaster (Con, Milton Keynes North) asked about today's unemployment figures. He expressed concern at the cost and the bureaucracy facing small businesses who want to take on new staff.
The prime minister said the government has introduced a range of measures to help SMEs such as the 'one in one out' rule on new regulations.
He added that the claimant count is down and employment is up 167,000 on the quarterly figures.
Brian Binley (Con, Northampton South) said of the 27 banks in the market place, just Lloyds and Bank of Scotland are properly supporting businesses by loaning money.
Cameron said one of the keys to recovery is getting banks lending, through government initiatives and a bank-led growth fund for SMEs.
Gemma Doyle (Lab, West Dunbartonshire) said jobs will be lost in her constituency because of cuts in public spending. She asked for an assurance that unemployment will not reach the levels of the 1980s.
The PM said there will be a private sector-led recovery, and cuts in national insurance and corporation tax and less regulation will help.
Priti Patel (Con, Witham) called on Ofsted to withdraw a report it compiled about a school in her constituency.
Cameron said he understands her concern, but did not comment on the individual case. He added that it is important that inspections are carried out to the highest standards.
Brian Donohoe (Lab, Central Ayrshire) said a town in his constituency has possibly the highest unemployment rate in Scotland and asked the PM to meet a small delegation from the area to discuss the issue.
Cameron said unemployment will be one of the "defining issues of the next few years".
Job losses will be replaced by private sector vacancies and the regional growth fund will help boost job creation.
Stephen Gilbert (Lib Dem, St Austell and Newquay) said severe flooding hit the constituency overnight and hundreds are suffering.
He praised the professionalism of emergency services and asked for government support for the communities affected.
The PM said he has spoken to leader of the county council after a "very difficult night" during which the emergency services worked round the clock.
"We stand ready to help in any way we can," he told the House.
Owen Smith (Lab, Pontypridd) said Cameron promised that the number of midwives would increase under a Conservative government, but now he "stands accused of reneging on the promise".
The PM said he does want to see an increase in midwives and the government is funding the NHS in a way that makes that possible.
Gordon Henderson (Con, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) raised the issue of travellers and planning permission.
Cameron said the traveller community should be treated in the same way when it comes to planning and everyone should obey the law.
Bill Esterson (Lab, Sefton Central) said one of his constituents who was brain damaged in an assault had to wait for some time before he was given a wheelchair. He called on Cameron to intervene to help people on waiting lists for wheelchairs.
The PM said MPs will know about the delays and lack of both choice and power that people have in these cases.
He said it must be possible to put more power in the hands of patients and parents and give people access to wheelchairs more quickly.
Andrew Griffiths (Con, Burton) said that the Labour party is getting an extra £1m in public funding while departments are facing cuts of 19 per cent.
Cameron said it was "a very good point". He said Labour's 'Short money' is going up 21 per cent at the same time that Downing St is cutting its costs by 25 per cent.
Stephen Timms (Lab, East Ham) welcomed plans for a new silicon valley in East London and asked how many jobs will be created.
The PM praised the people that put the idea together and the businesses such as Google that plan to move to the area. He said it is not for government to make estimates on how many new jobs will be created.
Karen Bradley (Con, Staffordshire Moorlands) said economic growth needs apprentices and good FE colleges.
Cameron said the skills strategy published yesterday and there will be 75,000 new apprenticeships and more money to build FE colleges.
Nigel Dodds (DUP, Belfast North) raised the tragic death of Aaron McCormick in Afghanistan and asked for an update on the Afghan security forces.
The PM said training and equipping Afghan forces is essential and "the way we can bring our soldiers home". He said the Afghan army is improving with British support.
Richard Harrington (Con, Watford) said the Warner Bros investment in his constituency will create more than 600 jobs and boost the local economy. He asked if the producer tax credit will continue.
Cameron said the investment is very welcome and the government is committed to support the UK film industry through tax credits.
Tony Lloyd (Lab, Manchester Central) asked how removing one in four police officers from Manchester will have no impact on crime.
The PM said it is striking how few officers spend their time in the streets. Instead many are working in HR, finance, IT and training.
Malcolm Bruce (Lib Dem, Gordon) asked for an update on what criteria will be introduced for the visa and immigration cap.
Cameron said the government is working in the issue and plans to get immigration under control in a way that is "business friendly".
Karl Turner (Lab, Kingston upon Hull East) said a housing scheme in his constituency has been scrapped, leaving people in unfit housing surrounded by boarded-up properties.
The PM said the regional growth fund will help deal with improving housing and the government has a "huge programme for upgrading and building new homes".
James Morris (Con, Halesowen and Rowley Regis) asked what the government is doing for children who attend school in areas of high deprivation.
Cameron said they are putting more money into early years, nursery places and the pupil premium, as well as free university for those from the poorest backgrounds.
He claimed the government has made "progressive choices in education".
Bridget Phillipson (Lab, Houghton and Sunderland South) quoted business secretary Vince Cable as saying the scrapping of regional development agencies has been chaotic.
The PM said Cable is implementing the policy and accused Labour of wasting money on RDAs that were not popular with business. The new local area partnerships will do a better job, he claimed.
Amber Rudd (Con, Hastings and Rye) congratulated the Saga group for moving to Hastings and creating 800 new jobs.
Cameron welcomed the move and said there is some good news in the recent employment figures, but a lot more work needs to be done.
Ben Bradshaw (Lab, Exeter) asked if it was a false economy to slash spending on flood defences.
The prime minister said £2.1bn will be spent over the next four years, roughly the same amount as the last four years. He said he had protected funds for flood defences, despite Labour's "wretched" economic legacy.
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