Business of the House

Can we have a debate in Government time on early-day motion 512, or a similar motion, that would give us a chance to vote on the Government's decision to dishonour the police pay agreement ? [That this House is disappointed by the failure of the Government to accept in full the recommendations of the Police Arbitration Tribunal police pay award; believes that the pay settlement should be backdated to 1st September; notes that the police are the front line in the fight against organised crime, terrorism and anti-social behaviour; recognises that their work puts them at great personal risk; further believes that this dispute over 0.6 per cent. difference is petty and needless; and calls upon the Government to reconsider its decision.] Does she agree that we owe it to the 22,000 people who came to Westminster yesterday—those of us who went to the rally saw how passionately they feel about this breach of trust—to have a debate and a vote in this House about such an important matter? That agreement has lasted 28 years, and it is a disgrace for the Government to break it in this way.