§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is 1481 aware that in many of the large towns throughout the country the local police constables receive their allowance for boots in half-yearly payments; and whether he can state why this system of payment cannot be carried out as regards the Metropolitan Police?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am not aware of the practice which prevails in other police forces; but it cannot, in any case, be a guide to the practice which should be followed in the Metropolitan Force, the circumstances of which are entirely different. The manner of payment was not decided upon without most careful consideration on the part of the police authorities and myself; and I may add that other clothing allowances exist in the Force and are paid weekly, in regard to which no hardship has ever been felt.