§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the dismissal on 20th February by the Standing Joint Committee of Cardiganshire by the casting vote of the Chair man, and in spite of the protests of the representatives of Quarter Sessions of the Chief Constable of the county, without reason being assigned, and shortly I before he would be entitled to superannuation on completion of 15 years' service, and on attaining the age of CO; and whether such proceedings on the part of a Joint Committee of a County Council and the Justices are subject to confirmation by the Home Department or other authority; and, in the contrary case, what steps it is proposed to take to insure a full inquiry into all the circumstances of the case?
§ * The UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. STUART WORTLEY,) Sheffield, HallamYes, Sir; the attention of the Secretary of State has been called to this matter. It was stated in a newspaper report that the Chief Constable was dismissed by the casting vole of the Chairman, who, however, in a letter received this morning, denies that this was the case, and also that the Chief Constable was dismissed without reasons being given. Certain 251 legal questions have arisen with regard to the action of the Joint Committee, which are now under consideration; and at the present moment the Secretary of State is not in a position to say what steps, if any, the Government may consider it their duty to take in the matter.
§ Me. B. ROWLANDS (Cardiganshire)Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Chief Constable declined to recognise the authority of the County Council?