HC Deb 10 May 1951 vol 487 cc2149-50
43. Sir H. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when copies of accounts of the Metropolitan Police Fund will be available in the Vote Office.

Mr. Ede

The accounts were presented on 1st May and are available in the Library. Since 1942 it has not been the practice to print them, and, in the absence of a general desire on the part of the House that the pre-war practice of printing them should be resumed, I am reluctant in the interests of economy to resume it.

Sir H. Williams

As this service costs the Exchequer many millions of pounds a year, and as the document in the Library is very difficult to understand, being partly written in by hand and partly typed, does the Home Secretary not think that we ought to be treated with more respect?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Receiver of the Metropolitan Police has the greatest respect for this House, and particularly for the hon. Member.