§ 22. Sir JAMES REMNANTasked the Home Secretary if it is proposed to withdraw the police from His Majesty's dockyards and magazines and substitute inexperienced men; if so, what date has been fixed for this; and will compensation be given to the displaced men to meet the costs of removal of their homes and families to London and elsewhere?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)I have been asked to reply. Solely in the interests of economy, and in compliance with the recommendation of the Geddes Committee, the Admiralty are arranging, as I explained in the Debate on Navy Estimates on the 16th March last, to substitute a special Marine Pensioner Police Force for Metropolitan Police for the work of protecting some of our establishments other than the Royal Dockyards. The introduction of this new Force is being pressed on as rapidly as possible, and I hope that the substitution will take place in the autumn. The Metropolitan Police thus relieved will be transferred by the Commissioner to other duties at no expense to the men themselves, in accordance with the usual procedure adopted in the case of transfers made in the "interest of the Service."
§ Sir J. REMNANTI could not hear half of what the right hon. Gentleman said, but will he answer this point? If these men have to return to London, will they have money found for them to pay the cost of their removal; and, secondly, are the men who are to take the place of the Metropolitan Police to get a less wage than that paid to the Metropolitan Police?
§ Mr. AMERYI did explain that the men will be brought back to whatever work they undertake at the cost of the Service. The new Marine Pensioner Force will be a cheaper force than the Metropolitan Police.