§ 31. Mr. McEnteeasked the Home Secretary what is the purpose for which the Metropolitan Police Fund is levied; what bodies contribute to the fund and in what proportion do they contribute; who determines the amounts to be collected from contributing municipal authorities; 575 and are such municipal authorities, either singly or through their associations, given the right to examine or to appeal against the estimates on which the demand for payments to the Metropolitan Police Fund is based?
§ Sir S. HoareThe main charge on the Metropolitan Police Fund is the cost of the Metropolitan police. One half of this, after allowing for receipts in aid, is provided by the Exchequer, out of the Police Vote (England and Wales), and one half by the police rate levied on the rating areas within the Metropolitan police district. The amount of the rate is fixed annually by the Secretary of State and is apportioned according to the rateable value of each rating area. The hon. Member will find other details relating to the Metropolitan Police Fund in the accounts of the fund presented to Parliament in April of each year. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, but the estimates and accounts of the fund come before the Estimates and Public Accounts Committees of this House.
§ Mr. McEnteeWill the right hon. Gentleman make some arrangements by which local authorities will have some knowledge of what they are paying for, and will he submit to some independent body the police rate estimates as they are prepared to-day?
§ Sir S. HoareI am not prepared to admit that there is any need for changing the existing arrangements.