§ 26. Viscount CURZONasked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to accept the offer of the hon. Member for South Battersea of two overall suits for policemen employed at the- more inadequately lighted points for trial?
Mr. HENDERSONI am obliged to the Noble Lord for his offer, and I hope he will not think me ungracious if I say that if the experiment were considered desirable the cost of providing overall suits for the purpose would not stand in the way. But, as has already been explained, this matter has been most carefully considered by the Commissioner of Police, who has come to the conclusion that white overalls are not desirable in the conditions which prevail in London; and unless I receive representations showing that the desire for these overalls 579 is widely supported by public opinion, I should not feel justified in pressing the Commissioner to adopt them.
§ Viscount CURZONIn the event of the new Advisory Committee being set up under the Traffic Bill, which is now going through another place, making a recommendation in this sense, will the right hon. Gentleman consider it?
§ Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps, or if not, will he do so, to collect information from those local authorities who do at present keep their police on point duty in white overalls?
Mr. HENDERSONWe have a considerable amount of information already in our possession, which justifies me in giving the reply I have just given.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONFrom those local authorities?
§ Major HORE-BELISHAWill the right hon. Gentleman accept an offer of white sheets if it comes from the same source?