§ 4. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Home Secretary how much money is at the disposal of the trustees of the Police Fund; how much of this money is to be spent on police clubs in London and throughout the country; and how much money will be spent on objects of greater interest and benefit to the married men of the farce?
§ 13. Sir JAMES REMNANTasked the Home Secretary if the trustees of the "Times" police fund have yet arrived at any decision as to the disposal of the money?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will answer these questions together. I am sure the House will acquit me of any discourtesy if I say that I do not think it would be proper for me to make any statement here with regard to the activities of the trustees of the National Police Fund. The trustees will, no doubt, take their own steps to make known as far as may be necessary the decisions at which they arrive. I understand that the fund now amounts to £241,225.
§ Sir J. REMNANTHas this House not a representative on this committee, and, if so, is it not a proper thing for us to address questions to him as to the administration of the fund?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have considered that point, and I am obliged to my hon. Friend for putting it to me. But the body is not a body responsible to Parliament; it is a body of private trustees. It is true that the Secretary of State for the time being is chairman of that body, but he is not appointed in any sense by Parliament, and, as no public funds are allocated to that body, I do not think that I am responsible to the House in regard to it.
§ Sir J. REMNANTWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake to see that the trustees consult the proper police authorities before arriving at a definite and final decision in the matter; and will he also urge on their consideration the position of the widows of those police pensioners who retired before 20th September, 1918?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere my hon. Friend is trying to lead me into deep water. I shall be glad to receive from my hon. Friend, or from any hon. Member of the House, suggestions or representations in regard to the fund, and I will undertake to bring them before the trustees. But I do not think I could officially say, as Minister responsible for the police, that I would guarantee that there would be consultation.
§ Major Sir ARCHIIBALD SINCLAIRIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 1082 there is some feeling among the married men that this proposal would not entirely meet their views and wishes; and will he see that the representatives of the married men in particular are consulted on this point?
Sir W. J OYNSON-HICKSThat again is a question which should be addressed to me in my private capacity, and not as a Minister of this House.
§ Mr. HAYESWhen invitations to sit on this board of trustees were sent out by the Home Secretary, did he invite the Police Federation to nominate representatives on this board. If not, will he do so, and thus get the police point of view without bothering this House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is all outside Parliamentary business.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAOn a point of Order. Is it not the fact that the police force is under the control of the Home Secretary, and that it is quite unprecedented for private money to be spent on a force which is under public control in this way? If we cannot have an answer from the Home Secretary as to the manner in which this money which has been subscribed by the public is being spent on a public force, there is absolutely no control and no redress in ease of any abuse.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWill the hon. Member prepare a question on that point, and let me see it?
§ Sir BASIL PETO rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot allow this to go any further.