§ 82. Mr. FLAVINasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase of pay, by way of war bonus or otherwise, has been given per man to the members of the City police and also to the members of the Metropolitan police since the outbreak of war; and whether he can say what percentage of their pre-war pay the war bonus or other allowances represent which have been given since War began?
§ Sir G. CAVEI would refer the hon. Member, as regards the Metropolitan police, to the full reply given by my predecessor on 29th November last. The City 1335 police received the same bonus as the Metropolitan police in March, 1915, and again in October, 1916. As the pre-war pay differed according to the rank of the police officers and some of the allowances given since the War are dependent on the circumstances of the recipients, it would be difficult to state the result in the form of a percentage.
§ Mr. FLAVINCan the right hon. Gentleman say what the increases were in pay or allowance, or am I right in saying that the war bonus only amounts to 3s. per week?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe whole of the increases are contained in the answer to which I refer.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the Metropolitan police received their war bonus prices have increased by 50 per cent?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am aware they have risen.
§ Mr. FLAVINIf the bonus were at the highest possible amount, it would not represent 15 per cent.; and can the right hon. Gentleman say how a man with a family can live on an increase of 15 per cent, on his pre-war pay, as compared with more than 80 per cent, of an increased cost of living.
§ Sir G. CAVEI think it is a good deal more than 15 per cent.
§ Mr. FLAVINGive us the figures we ask for.