§ 18. Mr. HAYESasked the Home Secretary the arrangements of which he has approved whereby police or other authorities utilise the services of road scouts of automobile organisations in substitution for those of local police in directing traffic; whether such arrangements provide for the reimbursement in whole or in part of the cost incurred; and, if so, whether the pay and conditions of service have been reviewed by his Department before sanctioning such arrangements?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSUnder the arrangement to which the hon. Member refers, the Royal Automobile Club provide uniformed men to direct traffic within specified hours and are paid by the police authority at a fixed rate, I think £150 per annum for each man. Where the arrangement has been approved this payment ranks as police expenditure for purposes of the Exchequer Grant. I do not review the conditions of service of the men who are so employed.
§ Mr. HAYESIs the whole of the money which is paid for the maintenance of this service given to the men employed in it; and are the men responsible to the police authorities or to their own organisation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe arrangement is one between the local authorities and the Royal Automobile Club; as I understand it, a sum of money is paid to the club itself. The men are not under police jurisdiction, but under the jurisdiction of the club. This has only been done in a very few cases as an experiment, and it is at present being very carefully watched.
§ Captain BRASSWould my right hon. Friend consider using the police for regulating traffic, instead of using them to work police traps?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy hon. and gallant Friend needs so much regulation. If he will give me his personal undertaking to abide by the regulations and the law, I will see if I can avoid them.
§ Captain BRASSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have a clean licence over many years?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI congratulate my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy should only the Royal Automobile Club's servants be used, and not the scouts of the Automobile Association?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI understand that the Royal Automobile Club is the only one of the two bodies that have offered to make these arrangements.
§ Captain BRASSCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he never exceeds 20 miles per hour?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, I can give that assurance absolutely, as my duties are so heavy that I have long ceased to drive personally.