39. Captain Cazaletasked the Home Secretary to what extent the arrangements for combining hospital flag days in the Metropolitan police district have resulted in a reduction of the number of street collections on behalf of hospitals; and what 1323 has been the effect of the new arrangement upon the receipts from such collections?
§ Sir S. HoareFifty-six hospitals in the Metropolitan Police District which used to have separate street collections agreed, at the suggestion of the Commissioner of Police, to combine their appeals this year. The number of collections was reduced to three. Two were held in May in aid of the general hospitals, and one was held in October for special hospitals not included in the May collections. I am glad to say that the members of the public have shown their approval of the steps taken for their convenience in the best possible way, as the receipts this year went up from £25,700 to £32,500, an increase of nearly £7,000. I am sure the House will welcome so generous a response to the needs of the hospitals.
Captain CazaletAre we to gather that these new arrangements are to the satisfaction of the public, the police and the hospitals concerned?
§ Sir S. HoareI certainly imagine, from the figures I have given, that they are.
§ Mr. WatkinsHas there been, under these new arrangements, a very large decrease in the overhead expenses of collection?
§ Sir S. HoareI should imagine that that goes without saying.