39. Mr. McEntreeasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider setting up a joint board to control Metropolitan police expenditure, to include representatives of the Home Office, the Treasury, and of local authorities within the Metropolitan police area?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. Responsibility for expenditure cannot be divorced from responsibility for administration, and the hon. Member's suggestion would involve legislation transferring responsibility for the Metropolitan Police Force to a joint board.
§ Mr. McEnteeIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very great dissatisfaction among Metropolitan borough councils, and in view of the fact that they have no knowledge whatever of what this money is being spent upon and no control over it, is it not time that this totalitarian form of organisation was abolished?
§ Sir S. HoareNo, Sir. I am not aware of any such discontent among the great majority of the Metropolitan borough councils.
§ Mr. McEnteeThe right hon. Gentleman cannot have read the Press.