§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Metropolitan Police were detailed for duty at Ascot Heath during the recent race meeting; what the total cost of their maintenance, including pay, expenses of horses, etc., was; and to what fund is the amount charged.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)The number of police doing duty at Ascot Heath during the recent race meeting was:— On the 18th inst., 649; on the 19th, 580; on the 20th, 746; and on the 21st, 530. Of these numbers, 510, 467, 575, and 417 employed in maintaining order on the course on the respective race days were paid for, as I said in answer to a similar Question last year, by various private persons; the remainder attended at the cost of the Police Fund. Nineteen mounted men were sent; these,
† See (4) Debates, clxxv., 665.1385 with all the horses, being paid for by private persons. I am not yet in a position to state the total cost, as the accounts have not yet been audited; but the amount will be approximately £1,400, of which some £200 will fall on the Metropolitan Police Fund.
§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSONDo we understand that the ratepayers of the metropolis will be called upon to find £200 for the attendance of the police at a race meeting outside the metropolitan area?
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe Metropolitan Police Fund will bear the cost of the police necessitated by the presence of the King, and of the police who have to look after that portion of the criminal population of London which attends race meetings.