§ 79. Sir R. BLAIRasked the Home Secretary if the secretary to the Receiver of the Metropolitan Police district has received any satisfactory reply from the Poplar Borough Council concerning the latter's refusal to pay the precepts; how much does the police precept amount to; has the Poplar Borough Council already received the amount; have they used it for another purpose; and, if so, what steps have been taken to prevent this?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe Receiver has received a reply from the Poplar Borough Council to the effect that the amount now due will be paid at the earliest possible date. The amount due is £25,282. I understand that the Council included the police contribution in the sums they have already raised by rates, but that the amount raised having proved insufficient to meet all their commitments, they postponed payment of the police contribution. The Receiver has made repeated applications for the contribution, and he will, if necessary, take steps to enforce payment, but he is relying on the promise of the Council to pay at an early date.