§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if members of the police force are permitted to hold meetings for the consideration of their conditions of employment and to make representations to the proper authorities without having to obtain special permission for each such meeting; and, if not, will he consider the desirability of issuing an order granting such permission?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn the Metropolitan Police force the rule that meetings of the police cannot be held without the Commissioner's authority has long been in force, and is well understood. Having regard to the conditions of the Metropolitan Police service, I think the rule must be maintained. Outside the Metropolis, the matter is in the discretion of the local police authority; and I cannot either require or advise them to adopt the course suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the lack of a hospital or nursing home for members of the Metropolitan Police force suffering from ordinary ailments where they can receive proper treatment and attention for which no suitable provision is made at police stations or section houses at present; and is the question of better provision when on the sick list under consideration?
§ Mr. McKENNAA central police hospital or nursing home for the Metropolitan Police would not be as satisfactory as the existing arrangement under which members of the force who need hospital treatment are admitted to a hospital near to788W their homes, where they can be visited conveniently and without much expense by their families and friends. When the illness does not require hospital treatment, the men are attended at their own homes by the divisional surgeons. Suitable sick rooms are provided for single men at police stations and section houses, where they are treated by the divisional surgeons, unless hospital treatment is necessary. The single men form only one-fourth of the force, and the proportion of sickness among them is very small.