REMUNERATION PACKAGE OF THE FORMER WEST YORKSHIRE CHIEF CONSTABLE

That this House deplores the secret deal concluded in 2009 by the then West Yorkshire Police Authority which provided Chief Constable Norman Bettison with perks worth over £70,000 a year in addition to his salary of £170,000; points out that this sweetheart arrangement involved £34,594 a year for a private vehicle, despite him having a staff car and driver, £9,148 for health and well-being including private health insurance and gym membership, as well as half of all telephone bills; questions why this deal which was manifestly of public interest was kept secret; asks why if it was a good deal for the public it was not made public; queries the legal advice given to the authority as subsequently similar deals have been struck out; notes that Mr Bettison resigned as Chief Constable last year after he faced criticism for his role in the controversial police investigation into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool football fans died; further notes that the Independent Police Complaints Commission has concluded that he has a case to answer over his conduct and over concerns about a police report into a witness who gave evidence to the MacPherson Inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence; and further notes that the chair of the authority who made the private deal is Mark Burns-Williamson who is now West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and demands that he answers why he signed off on such a secret and highly-questionable deal.