HC Deb 28 February 1946 vol 419 cc2087-8
21. Mr. King

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the average number of hours per week spent on duty by police constables within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster during the last three weeks.

Mr. Ede

Fifty-one hours.

Mr. King

Does my right hon. Friend think that that number of hours is appropriate on a permanent basis, or does he think that recruitment will ultimately ease the position and reduce the number of hours?

Mr. Ede

I should regret to think that these hours would be permanent, and I can hardly think that the House will want to sit so long as it has been doing on so many occasions recently. I hope that as recruitment improves and trained men become available, it will be possible to reduce the hours of overtime.

Mr. King

Can my right hon. Friend say when he hopes that recruitment will be sufficiently improved to allow him to do that?

Mr. Ede

I cannot say now.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

Does not the Minister agree that Members of this House, and of another place, owe a great debt of gratitude to the police here, who are always ready to help?

Mr. Gallacher

Would it not be better if the Minister would arrange to pay full overtime rates? Would not that be a better expression of gratitude?

Mr. Ede

I announced to the House last week an improvement in overtime rates. I quite agree that these gentlemen are always exceedingly courteous and helpful to Members of the House and to visitors.