HC Deb 22 June 1944 vol 401 cc334-5
22. Mr. De la Bére

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to make a review of the conditions of pay and service of the auxiliary police force; and, further, if he can make some statement of the Government's intentions regarding this matter.

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

As I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne) on 9th March last, I have been unable to accede to the request of the Auxiliary Police Association that the pay of the police auxiliaries should be differentiated from that of the other wartime services. I understand that the Association will shortly be forwarding further representations on the subject of the pay of auxiliaries, and I shall be glad to consider these representations when they reach me. In the meantime the police auxiliaries, in common with members of the other wartime services, have recently received increases of pay amounting in most cases to 7s. a week.

Mr. De la Bère

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the auxiliary police have done very fine work during the war period, and that a review of its problems and hardships is urgently called for, as these conditions have been going on for a very long time indeed?

Mr. Morrison

I fully appreciate the work of the auxiliary police, and their representations have been, and will be, considered, and, while I am in the hands of the House, I think perhaps it would be a little difficult to have these wages negotiations across the Floor of the House.

Sir Ralph Glyn

Will the Home Secretary give the House an assurance that when the matter is gone into the question of the pay and the work of women police will also be looked at?

Mr. Morrison

That will, of course, inevitably arise.