MR. GRIEYEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he has decided whether any contribution will be made towards the Harbour Police in Burghs in Scotland?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, the object of the contribution made by the Treasury under the 66th section of the Police (Scotland) Act, 21 Vict. c. 72, was to afford a certain amount of relief of local taxation in counties and burghs in Scotland. The county and the ordinary burgh police forces were maintained by local rates; but the police employed in harbour duties, especially at Greenock, were paid out of the Harbour Funds, which were derived from dues charged on goods exported and imported at the respective ports. Therefore, he did not think that, as the law at present stood, the Treasury ought to contribute to the expense of maintaining the harbour police. This was his decision, and it was the same that was arrived at by his predecessor in 1866 when the matter was brought before the Home Office.