GENERAL SECRETARY'S LETTER. (Hansard, 30 May 1919)

Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER CLAY
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been 1584 called to a letter from the general secretary of the National Union of Police and Prison Officers to a daily paper, regretting that members of the Metropolitan Police had carried out their duty in Parliament Square on the afternoon of the 26th inst.; whether such a communication from an official of the union is conducive to the good discipline of the force; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir Hamar Greenwood)
I have seen the letter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. It was not signed by a member of the Force, and I am confident it does not represent the real opinion of the members of the Metropolitan Police Force. There could be no clearer evidence that the Government have acted rightly in refusing to recognise a union whose official action aims at preventing the police from performing their elementary duty of securing obedience to the law and protecting the liberty of the House.

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY
Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman read to the House the letter to which reference is made in that answer?

§ Sir H. GREENWOOD
Yes, Sir; it was a letter to a well-known Labour daily in the following terms: We desire to point out, both to the Federation and to the general public, that the responsibility for the occurrence rests solely upon the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police. The rule about no demonstration being allowed to approach within one mile of the House is typical of the many foolish and dangerous regulations that help to segregate the police from the rest of the workers. Further, we state emphatically that the only solution for occurrences of this kind is the democratisation of the Police Force, the ending of militarism in the Metropolitan Force, the full and complete recognition of the Union, and the closer linking up of the police with organised labour. Finally, we appeal to the discharged soldiers and sailors not to judge the Union on yesterday's happenings. Let them blame the Government and the Home Secretary, the Commissioner of Police, and the military system against which we are strenuously fighting. As a Union we looked upon our comrades in the workshops and from the Army as comrades.

Colonel THORNE
In connection with this question, may I ask my hon. Friend if the increased pay promised by the Home 1585 Office to the police is going to be retrospective, and when it is intended to commence paying it out?

§ Sir H. GREENWOOD
As to the first part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, yesterday announced that the substantial increase of pensionable pay to the police already determined upon would be retrospective, and would become due as from the 1st of April last. As for the second part of the question, when the actual payment will commence, that is a matter on which I cannot give an answer, but I will submit the question to the Home Secretary, who no doubt will deal with it later on.

Colonel THORNE
Will the hon. Gentleman at once make representations to the proper authority—that proper authority being the Treasury, who are blocking the way, and would it not be as well, in view of the agitation, to commence paying the policemen as speedily as possible?

§ Sir H. GREENWOOD
May I say that neither the Treasury nor any other Department, nor the Government as a whole, are blocking the way to a settlement of this question at the earliest possible moment?

§ Earl WINTERTON
May I ask my hon. Friend if, in view of the general interest taken in this question, and in view of the critical situation in the country, we cannot have a discussion on this matter on Monday or Tuesday, together with a full statement from the Government upon it?

§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
I will refer my hon. Friend's request to the Leader of the House.