§ 14. Mr. HAYESasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Standing Joint Committee of the County of Warwick in selecting as Chief Constable of the County of Warwick Commander Edward R. B. Kemble, who is still serving in the Royal Navy, which service he joined 26 years ago; and, as the selection appears to be in contravention of 539 the Secretary of State's Statutory Police Regulation, Number 7, which requires that a candidate shall have had previous police service and be under 40 years of age, whether he will withhold his approval of the appointment?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe appointment has been submitted for my approval. For the present I can only say that I am in communication with the Standing Joint Committee upon the matter.
§ Mr. HAYESBefore making a final decision in this case, if officers from the Army or the Navy must be appointed will the right hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that there are in the force quite a number of Army and Navy officers who have had police experience?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI need hardly say that before I approve an important appointment of this kind every consideration, including an examination of the qualifications of the other candidates, will be given to the matter by myself.