§ 43. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if the lack of any systematic arrangements for providing refreshment for the men of the Metropolitan Police force called away from their own districts for long hours of duty at State functions, special emergencies, and strikes has been the subject of representations; and if he has any information showing that the omission to inaugurate an efficient system of commissariat in charge of a permanent department, and the grounds advanced for not taking steps to prevent the possibility of a recurrence of recent regrettable conditions, are regarded favourably by the police themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Commissioner of Metropolitan Police informs me that he has received no representations on the subject referred to except such as are implied in questions which have recently been put in this House. He is not aware of the recent regrettable conditions to which the hon. Member refers.
§ 44. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if he can say how many days were spent by the Metropolitan Police recruiting staff in Scotland when fifty-eight recruits were obtained; how the recruiting staff is constituted and what is the weekly cost in salaries; did the £150 expended in obtaining fifty-eight recruits include the railway fares of the recruits to London or do recruits pay their own fares; and, as the fifty-eight recruits from Scotland cost £2 10s. per recruit, exclusive of pay of permanent recruiting staff, on what calculation has the sum of 5s. per recruit offered to police pensioners for recruiting been based?
§ Mr. McKENNASixteen days were occupied. The recruiting staff consisted of a medical officer, three members of the permanent staff and a constable, and the aggregate weekly salary (exclusive of the medical officer's fees) would be about £24. This expenditure, however, would have been incurred whether a recruiting party had been sent to Scotland or not. Railway fares are not paid for recruits. It is hoped that the fee of 5s. per recruit to pensioners will prove sufficient inducement to the latter to act as recruiting agents.