59. Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of the report of the inter-departmental committee on road safety among school children for the augmentation of the police force by a contribution from the Road Fund for the protection of children when going to or from school; and what action has been taken to provide authorised adult patrols in rural areas?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir Samuel Hoare)No police force in England and Wales has been augmented at the cost of the Road Fund for the purpose of ensuring the safety of children when crossing the road to or from school; but requirements of this nature are put forward from time to time by police authorities and are taken into account with other needs in connection with ordinary increases of strength at the cost of the Police Fund. With regard to authorised adult patrols, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education that he took steps to bring the recommendations of the committee to the notice of local education authorities, and understands that a number of authorities have provided such patrols as one of the measures for the protection of school children.
Mr. Creech JonesAre we to understand that the Government have no intention of implementing the recommendation of the inter-departmental committee as far as the service of police on point duty near schools is concerned?
§ Sir S. HoareWe are trying to implement the report in principle, but in practice it is very difficult to distinguish between the time taken by the police in looking after school children crossing roads and the time taken in their other duties. We, therefore, came to the conclusion that it would be better to deal with it as part of the general police establishment, ranking for the police grant.