§ 48. Mr. NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the force of detectives, plainclothes officers, and others, who are required to observe the mansions and residences of Members of the Cabinet and accompany them on private or official visits to other parts of the country, and to the force of police now employed to maintain order on the occasion of any public meeting being addressed by a Cabinet Minister; whether he is in a position to give a rough estimate of the cost incurred by the employment of detectives and other agents in thus observing Members of the Cabinet; and whether an opportunity will be afforded the House of discussing the outlay of public money on the above services?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. From time to time the public interest may demand that the police should devote special attention to a particular form of lawlessness, but it would be undesirable as well as impossible to state the extra cost to the public thereby involved.