§ 34. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary how many summons were issued against cabmen in 1939, 1940 and 1941; and the number of convictions during each of those years?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonNo statistics are kept classifying persons charged with offences by their trades or professions. I regret, therefore, that these figures are not available and could not be obtained without 1289 an undue expenditure of labour which could not be justified in present circumstances.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it not a fact that these figures were available for the years that I have mentioned, and in view of the importance of inquiring into this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure some approximate figures from the Commissioner?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am not sure if they were available in the form for which my hon. Friend asks, but in any case if we are to reduce Government staffs to a necessary minimum, we must forgo a lot of statistical information at the present time.
§ Mr. SorensenIs it not a fact that this information is in the possession of the right hon. Gentleman's Department?
§ Mr. MorrisonI have no doubt that the information is in the possession of the police authorities, but in order to classify it a lot of clerical work would be involved, and I think the hon. Member should realise that we are at war and that manpower is a very serious matter.