§ 78. Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYasked the Home Secretary whether he can now consider the petition the subordinate officials of the Metropolitan Police Courts have had before him since February, 1914, for an increase in salary to cope with the increase in prices of food, such petition being strongly supported by the Metropolitan magistrates; whether anything has yet been done in the matter, more parti- 972 cularly as the Metropolitan Police as a whole have had their pay increased on two occasions during the same period; whether he will consider the desirability of increasing the commencing salary of 26s. 10d. per week for these permanent officials under the Home, Office in London, who may have a wife and family to provide for and a home to keep up, especially in view of the fact that several of these men are serving, their King and Country, having been called to the Colours for the War; and whether, seeing that these officials were informed that the consideration of their petition was postponed until the coming into operation of the Criminal Justice (Administration) Act, 1914, which, after being postponed for some months, came into full operation on the 1st April, 1915, he is now prepared to take any action in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The petition is now under consideration, and I hope to come to a decision very shortly.