§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Who is at present the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department; whether the Home Office communicates with him directly, or through the Chief Commissioner of Metropolitan Police; and, whether arrangements have been made at the Home Office for the investigation of Crime apart from Scotland Yard?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Mr. 894 Anderson is, at present, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department. The practice at the Home Office has been to communicate directly with him on matters relating specially to his Department. Where more than Departmental interests are involved, communications are made through the Commissioner. The answer to the third Question is in the negative. The investigation of crimes committed in the Metropolis is entirely in the hands of the Department in Scotland Yard.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLWill the right hon. Gentleman now take the opportunity of giving the House some definite information with regard to the position of Mr. Monro?
§ MR. GENT-DAVIS (Lambeth, Kennington)I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman a Question of which I gave him private Notice on Friday—namely, whether the reason given by Mr. James Monro for his resignation of his office of Assistant Commissioner of Police was, that under the system pursued by the Chief Commissioner, he could no longer be responsible for the administration of the Criminal Investigation Department; and whether the Papers on the subject are to be laid on the Table of the House?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have given the hon. Member for Bethnal Green information on which he has put a Question with regard to Mr. Monro. I informed the hon. Gentleman that I was enjoying the benefit of the advice of Mr. Monro on matters relating to crime. Among these matters I may mention that I have had a consultation with him on the whole subject of the organization of the Criminal Investigation Department, with which he is more familiar than any other man in the country, and I need hardly say that his advice is most valuable on the subject. As to the Question put to me by the hon. Member for Kennington, I have stated to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green that Mr. Monro resigned because of differences of opinion which had arisen between himself and the Commissioner on questions of police administration.
§ MR. GENT-DAVISIf that is the case, will the Home Secretary lay on the Table of the House the important documents which will show exactly the position in which Mr. Monro stands at present, and the absolute reasons which 895 caused his resignation of a most important public position?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have quoted with literal accuracy the terms of Mr. Monro's resignation. It is not the custom to lay Papers of that sort before the House.
§ MR. GENT-DAVISThen I am afraid, Sir, we must get them to-night.