§ Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he would state, approximately, the additional expense which it was estimated would be incurred by police authorities in England and Wales if the Police (Weekly Rest-Day) Bill were passed into law in its present form and put into operation; and whether, in view of the existing arrangements in regard to the payment of grants from the Imperial Exchequer in aid of local rates, the whole of such additional expense would, under the Bill in its present form, have to be paid by the ratepayers?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Secretary of State has no definite information. A very rough estimate based on a comparison of the cost of the county and borough police with that of the Metropolitan police suggests that the total cost to police authorities in England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan and City police authorities, would be about £250,000 to £300,000. Under the existing financial arrangements the cost will fall in part directly on the rates, and in part on the Exchequer contribution; 1297 but, as this charge on the Exchequer contribution will diminish proportionately the amount (if any) available for relief of the rates, the whole cost will, in fact, be borne by the ratepayer.