§ SIR JULIAN GOLDSMID (St. Pancras, S.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true that many of the police affected by the recent Order of the Chief Commissioner, have been attached to the House of Commons for long periods, in some cases extending to more than 20 years, and that many of them, in consideration of the position they have thus occupied, have had to forego all chance of promotion; and, if these statements are true, how it is proposed to compensate those men, who are of exemplary behaviour, and who will be injured by loss of pay and in other ways if the Order is carried into effect?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS (Birmingham, E.)There 1306 are, I am informed, not more than seven men who will be affected by the recent Order. Of these, some are nearly due for retirement on pension; some would, independently of the Order, have been taken off this duty; and some may be allowed to remain by special permission. The Chief Commissioner does not anticipate that any case of hardship will arise. If it should, the Chief Commissioner will give it full consideration.