Police and Justice Bill

The Minister has mentioned the Home Secretary’s role a couple of times. As we know, the Home Secretary represents a Scottish seat, and has no remit for policing in Scotland. Interestingly, a vigorous debate took place in the Labour party in Scotland. A party insider said"““We want police forces to be more accountable to the communities they serve.””" The breaking up of Strathclyde police is being discussed where the Home Secretary has no remit. Then the Home Secretary comes down to England and tells our constituents, who massively oppose larger police forces, that they may be given them. What is the Home Secretary’s real opinion? On his home patch, his own party is debating the breaking up of a very large police force. Now he has come down here—he has only been in power over the past few days—and I should like to know his real views. Is he going to listen to us? Is he going to listen to our constituents? Is he going to let people have a referendum where there is huge local opposition to this measure?