§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary 1605 of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the feeble-minded were extended two years after the appointment of the Commission, he will advise the widening of the terms of reference of the Royal Metropolitan Police Commission so that it may inquire into statements containing serious allegations against the police which have been submitted to it, but which could not be considered as they did not come within the scope of the terms of reference.
§ MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir. As I said in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Deptford on 25th June, the terms of the reference to the Royal Commission on Metropolitan Police are fixed by statute and I have no power to alter them. The terms of reference to the Royal Commission on the Feeble-minded are not so fixed. Moreover, it is a matter of public importance that the Royal Commission on the Metropolitan Police should report speedily.