§ MR. SEAVERNS (Lambeth, Brixton)I begt o ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is now a balance from the Police Rate of £700,000 in the hands of the Commissioner of Police; and whether this balance and the improved financial position resulting from the recent quinquennial assessment will receive his attention in his consideration of the possibility of granting to the members of the Metropolitan Police Force one day's rest in seven.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI agree that it is essential to consider the financial position of the Metropolitan Police Fund in connection with the subject mentioned in the question, but the result of that consideration is unfortunately not what the hon. Member desires. On March 31st last, when the half-yearly receipts from the parishes had just come in, there was a net balance of £500,000 to credit of the Metropolitan Police and Police Pension Funds; but the balance in hand had fallen on Monday last to £152,921; and this amount, together with any receipts which may become available in the interval, is insufficient to meet the expense of the Metropolitan Police Service for the next eight weeks, that is, until August 10th, when the next Rate Warrants become payable. It will be necessary during this period to borrow temporarily from the Bank of England. Further, the increased income of the fund for the current financial year resulting from the growth of the assessable value of the Metropolitan Police District, is estimated at £55,600 while the increased charge for the pay of the force resulting from the much needed augmentations which have been recently sanctioned amounts to £56,000.