Sir F. HALLasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the action of the Monmouthshire Standing Joint Committee in issuing instructions for the withholding by 50 per cent. in certain contingencies of the pay of the police under their control; and what action the Government propose to take to prevent the police force being penalised for carrying out their primary duty of protecting the public?
§ Captain HACKINGI have been asked to reply. Certain payments of grant in. respect of police expenditure in Monmouthshire have been suspended—not withheld—at the instance of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in view of Resolutions passed by the Standing Joint Committee, which made it appear doubtful whether the statutory conditions governing payment of the grant would in fact be satisfied. I am in communication with the Standing Joint Committee upon the whole matter, and I hope that any misunderstandings that have arisen may speedily be cleared up. With regard to the threatened withdrawal of 50 per cent. of the pay of the police, I and advised that the Standing Joint Committee have no power to reduce their payments to the force in this arbitrary fashion, and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary would be bound to see that appropriate steps are taken to enforce the legal obligations of the Committee towards the men.