§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether all moneys receivable for police purposes in the Metropolis are paid to, and placed in the custody of, the Police Receiver; whether the same official is solely responsible for all expenditure connected with the Metropolitan Police Force, or whether the Commissioner of Police has any control over such expenditure; whether any authoritative representations have been made during the last two years, pointing out possible economies and retrenchments in police expenditure; and, if so, by whom were these representations made; and, can he lay upon the Table of the House copies of such correspondence?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)All moneys received for police purposes are, in accordance with 10 Geo. IV. c. 44, s. 10, placed to the credit of the account 832 of the Receiver at the Bank of England. It is difficult to state briefly the effect of the entire organization; but, generally, it may be said that, except as to repairs to stations, all proposals involving expenditure are initiated by the Commissioner, and have to be approved by the Secretary of State, and that the contracts and other financial arrangements to carry out these proposals are made by the Receiver subject to the instructions of the Secretary of State. Representations pointing out possible economies and retrenchments have, from time to time, been made to the Secretary of State during the past two years both by the the Commissioner and by the Receiver; and representations have also been made by the Commissioner as to the amendment of the whole financial system of the Metropolitan Police, which is now undergoing careful revision. No good purpose would be served by laying on the Table of the House copies of the correspondence on the subject.