§ MR. BOULNOIS (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether some extra pay or gratuity can be granted to the members of the Metropolitan Police Force for the additional and extremely arduous duties which have devolved upon them during the past week in consequence of the Royal Marriage?
§ MR. ASQUITHWith all respect to the hon. Gentleman I must deprecate the practice of putting questions such as this, which at the same time suggest some remissness on the part of the authorities in recognising the services of the police, and indicate a particular form which that recognition should take. There was, I venture to think, the less reason for such an inquiry on the present occasion, as on Friday last—the day after the wedding—I informed the House that the matter was already under consideration. The House may be sure there is no lack of disposition on the part of the Commissioner and myself to render spontaneous acknowledgment to such excellent work as was performed by the police under exceptionally trying conditions on Thursday last. Having taken all the circumstances into consideration, I have sanctioned the grant of an extra day's pay, and of three days' extra leave to all the members of the Metropolitan Police Force who were on that day on duty in the Metropolis.
§ MR. BOULNOISMay I say in justification that I put my question down late on Thursday night, before the right hon. Gentleman made his statement?
§ MR. ASQUITHThat is the less justification.