§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Home Secretary how many persons recently employed by Sir Basil Thomson in the Special Department of the Criminal Investigation Department have recently resigned, been asked to resign, been dis- 64W missed, and been transferred to other Departments; who is at present in charge of investigating revolutionary and seditious, and especially Russian, activities in this country; what previous experience the present Chief Commissioner of Police has had in this highly specialised work; and whether the activities of the Special Department when under Sir Basil Thomson were confined to the Metropolis, or the United Kingdom, or whether they included secret service abroad as well?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe answer to the first part of the question is, none. Since Sir Basil Thomson's resignation no person employed by him has resigned, has been asked to resign, has been dismissed, or has been transferred. The answer to the second inquiry is—the same gentlemen who were in charge under Sir Basil Thomson. The reply to the last two inquiries is that, as head of the Metropolitan Police, the Commissioner has the widest possible experience of police work of every kind, and, in addition, he will be assisted by expert officers in the specialised work; and that Sir Basil Thomson's Department collected information from all parts of the United Kingdom and from abroad.