§ 3.40 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the recruitment and training of police cadets in England and Wales.]
EARL BATHURSTMy Lords, it has been Government policy for a number of years to encourage the police authorities to appoint police cadets, and nearly all have done so. The number of police cadets has steadily increased, and in most areas there appears to be no shortage of suitable applicants. Recruiting publicity is essentially a local matter, as it must be suited to the local needs. Training is also primarily a matter for the force concerned. Earlier this year my right honorable friend the Home Secretary, as police authority for London, approved the Commissioner of Police's proposals for re-modeling the training arrangements for cadets with the Metropolitan Police, and I am glad to say that there is no shortage of recruits of good standard.