60. Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Home Secretary whether the work discharged by the Manchester Ship Canal police is not as arduous and important as that discharged by members of a borough police force; and whether, assuming there are members of the Manchester Ship Canal police force duly qualified on the ground of long and meritorious service, he will take the claims of such members into consideration with a view to their receiving the Coronation medal or any similar distinctions awarded in the future?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I explained to the hon. Member a week ago, the medal was intended only for the public police forces of the country, namely, the Metropolitan, county, and borough police. I do not doubt that many members of the Manchester Ship Canal police and many other persons in the private employment of railway or canal companies have performed long and meritorious service and discharged duties which are both arduous and important; but they do not come within the class for whom His Majesty instituted the medal.
Mr. BARLOWWould the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer to the last few lines of my question: Whether the matter will be taken into consideration in relation to similar distinctions in the future?
§ Mr. McKENNAOh, certainly. In any similar distinctions that may be created hereafter those mentioned will certainly be taken into consideration.
Mr. BARLOWIn the case of a body of police not on the same footing as the Manchester Dock police, would they receive the decoration?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must have notice of that question.