§ Mr. BYLESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was aware that the enactment of the Police (Weekly Rest-Day) Bill would impose upon the borough of Salford an additional cost amounting approximately to £2,600 per annum, and that the rates in that borough are already 8s. 10d. in the pound; and, whether, having regard to the constantly increasing burdens cast on the municipalities by the Legislature and the consequent danger to the progress of municipal work, he could hold out any hope that the cost of the proposed reform would be cast on the Exchequer and not on the local ratepayer?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Secretary of State has no special information with regard to Salford. As he recently informed the representatives of all the chief boroughs in England and Wales whom he saw on this subject, it is impossible for the Government at present to give any new grant from the Exchequer in aid of local police expenditure; but when the time comes for the revision of the relations 201 between Imperial and local finance, the increased charge in connection with the grant of the weekly rest will be a factor to be considered in the readjustment.
§ Mr. BYLESWhen will that time come, and until then are municipalities to be forced to increase their rates?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI may remind the hon. Member that the Bill at present before the House gives municipalities four years before this charge is carried into effect.
§ Mr. REMNANTMay I ask how the estimate of £2,600 was arrived at, as in the only instance in which the one day's rest a week has been carried out, namely, at Reading, the cost does not amount to a farthing in the pound?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI know that my hon. Friend is a specialist on the subject, but I do not know how the hon. Member for Salford obtained his figures.