§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take into his consideration the desirability of an extension of the annual holiday of the members of the Metropolitan Police force from the present system of allowing ten days to a holiday of fourteen days' duration.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)I shall be glad to consider the matter, but I find that the suggestion could not be carried out without an augmentation of the force, which would cost £20,000 a year; and, as the Metropolitan Police Estimate for the current year shows a considerable deficit, due chiefly to the growth of the Pension Fund, I cannot lightly entertain a proposal which would involve so heavy an additional charge on the rates.