§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, West)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any clause in the present contract for Metropolitan Police boots which would prevent the boots from being passed in the same way, and by the same Board, or a Board similar to that which passes the Army boots, instead of by one examiner at a salary of about £150 a year; and, if not, whether he will take steps to have this done until the contract in question expires; and whether, as the conditions of the contract in question is a public document, he will lay it upon the Table of the House?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo complaints have been received as regards the inefficiency of the present system of examination. It was adopted after very careful consideration, and there are no sufficient reasons for making any change. With regard to the second paragraph, I must defer the final answer, as I am in consultation with other Government Departments on the subject.