HC Deb 29 October 1908 vol 195 c490
MR. CARLILE (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to refuse to take into its force time-expired soldiers of His Majesty's Army who have passed into the Reserve; and, if so, on what grounds these men are refused employment in this force.

MR. GLADSTONE

No, it is not the practice to refuse to take Army Reservists into the Metropolitan Police. There is a large number now serving.

MR. CARLILE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, at any rate, one case came under my notice of a man being refused on the ground that he still had some years to serve in the Reserve?

MR. GLADSTONE

There is a regulation limiting the number to 600, for obvious reasons.

MR. CARLILE

Is that limit at present approached in any degree?

MR. GLADSTONE

I imagine that the limit has been reached, but I will ascertain.