§ 38. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the Parliamentary grant-in-aid of the local police forces in 1914; and what is the amount this year?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)I have been asked to reply. There was in 1914 no grant from moneys voted by Parliament in respect of the cost of the county and borough police forces, but certain sums from "assigned revenues" were, under Statute, applied towards the cost of the pay and clothing and the pensions of the county and borough police, the total sum so applied in respect of the financial year 1913–14 being approximately £1,775,000. In 1918, a supplementary grant from moneys voted by Parliament was instituted with the object of bringing the total subvention up to one-half the net cost of the police under all heads, and the amount payable in respect of this grant during the current financial year is estimated at £3,880,000, in addition to the statutory grants as in 1913–14.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that in consequence of the extra police necessary on the roads for the regulation of motor traffic on point duty, the local authorities are now incurring greater expenditure on police than in 1914?
§ Mr. SHORTTI cannot say without notice whether the strength of the police forces has increased since 1914, but certainly their work has increased.