13. Lieut.-Colonel MOOREasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of officers of the Metropolitan Police employed in consequence of Ascot Races, from 16 on 20th June, 1922, to 224 on 20th June, 1928; and whether he will state the causes leading to the employment of 208 more officers on this date in 1928 as compared with the corresponding date in 1922?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI regret that my reply to a former question last Thursday was inadvertently misleading. On comparable dates the number of police employed in consequence of the Ascot Races in 1922 was 141 as against 224 this year. The increase was due to the increase in traffic.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSNo. The increase of traffic along the route involves extra police being employed on the ordinary roads of the country, and the cost is borne on police funds.
§ Mr. HARRISIs not this a charge on London ratepayers? Are they to bear all this extra cost for the benefit of the whole country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMost of the traffic to Ascot is from London—London ratepayers.