§ MR. W. REDMONDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) with reference to the number of applications received during the last two years from England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, for the position of constable in the London Metropolitan Police Force, can he state how many of such applicants for this period from England, 1346 Scotland, and Ireland respectively have been appointed; (2) how many applicants during the last two years have been appointed before their proper turn on the list was reached; and (3) if there are any, what were the reasons for such procedure?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, N., BlackpoolI am afraid no Returns are kept from which the information asked for in the first paragraph of the Question could be given. Some 15,000 applications are received every year; and to obtain the information it would be necessary to examine the description form in each case. There is no such thing as a "proper turn"—priority of application confers no right to priority of appointment. The Commissioner, as is his duty, chooses those whom he considers most suitable.