HC Deb 11 December 1941 vol 376 cc1652-3
20. Mr. David Adams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to wide discrepancies and remuneration between senior police officers and officers appointed under the National Fire Service; and whether he will take steps to remove dissatisfaction arising out of these discrepancies?

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I have received and considered some representations on this subject. It is impossible to arrive at any exact comparison between two Services with such widely differing functions, but I can find no justification for the view that the scales of pay of police officers compare unfavourably with those which have been fixed for the National Fire Service.

Mr. Adams

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is discontent about the matters mentioned in the Question and that these matters ought to be looked into?

Mr. Morrison

I do not think there is extensive discontent. My primary business is to determine in my own mind whether there is any reason for discontent, and I have very carefully considered the matter and cannot find any reasonable ground for criticism.