Question
I thank the Minister for that response. I want more funding for policing, as well as the fairer allocation of it, to tackle the issues blighting Bournemouth, whether illegal e-bike use or ketamine use. I thank the Minister for agreeing, in writing today, to meet constituents whose lives have been deeply affected by that drug. I understand why police reform and funding formula reform go hand in glove, but can I urge the Minister, as we move forward with those reforms, to do everything she can to minimise the number of consultations needed to achieve fairer funding for Dorset? The longer we have to wait, the longer Dorset is at a disadvantage.
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. It was a delight, as a Minister, to get a letter from the Cabinet Office saying, “You don’t have to do as many consultations as you used to.” Hopefully, we can get things moving a bit quicker than the previous Government managed. I think they promised police reform for over 10 years and never delivered, so I hear what he is saying and we will keep working as fast as we can.33% point-scoring 17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (62/100)
The reply addressed the one point raised: how to limit consultations and delay. It cited a Cabinet Office letter stating that fewer consultations are now needed, and committed to working as fast as possible. However, it did not set out the specific steps that will be taken, so a member of the public may still need to ask for concrete detail.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister do everything she can to minimise the number of consultations needed before fairer police funding for Dorset is achieved, as police and funding formula reforms proceed? | Addressed | Direct | Statement 2 gives a concrete point bearing on the consultation burden: a Cabinet Office letter says fewer consultations are now needed. Statement 6 commits to working as fast as possible, and statement 3 links this to speeding things up, so together they answer the item's request to minimise consultations and delay. The reply stops short of spelling out what further steps will be taken, which is why confidence is moderate. |