9. Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of assistant provost marshals, their clerks, and other personnel employed in the United Kingdom prior to the War and at the present time, respectively; whether the greater part of their work used formerly to be done by regimental police; and what is the additional cost involved by the present method?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe present numbers of provost officers and police personnel at Home, including clerks, are 1,205, all ranks, as against 412 before the War. These numbers have to find drafts for the overseas forces and are temporarily swollen owing to conditions in Ireland; they are in process of steady reduction as the Army gets back to normal conditions. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the line of demarcation between the work of the regimental and the military police has not yet been definitely settled.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs it possible to state what is the additional cost, as between the 1,200 and the 400?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI dare say it would be possible, and if the hon. Member desires it I shall get the information.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSIs it proposed to revert to the pre-War system and save this additional cost?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONNo; I think it it intended to reduce the number, as I have already stated in the answer.