§ 1. Mr. Lagdenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years he has withheld the police grant to a county police force; and for what reasons.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)Payment of Exchequer grant in respect of a county police force has been withheld on one occasion during the last five years. In that case the police authority had decided to restrict recruitment, although the strength of the force was substantially below the authorised establishment, and my predecessor was satisfied that this would prejudice the efficient policing of the county.
§ Mr. LagdenIs withholding the police grant for the county the only method by which the Home Department can bring pressure to bear upon chief constables and standing joint committees? Is it not a fact that if the counties themselves wish to make up the grant from their own resources they can do so and so defy the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. ButlerI do not think that they would wish to defy the Home Secretary. The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is substantially "Yes, Sir."
§ Mr. ButlerThere has been no case where the action has been ineffective.