43. Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the Home Secretary what is the organisation of which Sir Basil Thomson is in charge; and whether there is now in existence in this country a secret police force on lines similar to those which have existed in many countries throughout the Continent?
§ Major BAIRDSir Basil Thomson is in charge of the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police, which has existed in its present form for more than 40 years. The only changes are that he has given up the charge of the Criminal Investigation Department in order to give his whole time to the Special Branch, and that his staff has been slightly increased in order to deal with the increase of work necessarily arising under present conditions. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.