HC Deb 18 January 1945 vol 407 cc379-80W
Mr. Montague

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet had an opportunity of meeting the representatives of the Police Federation and the Auxiliary Police Association about police pay and conditions of service; and whether he can make any statement.

Mr. H. Morrison

Yes, Sir. I have now met representatives of both bodies and similar meetings have been held in Scotland. As regards the regular police my right hon. Friend and I have informed the representatives of the English and Scottish Police Federations that the Government are now prepared to revise the basic pay of the regular police, and that proposals to this end will be laid before the two Police Councils at an early date. As regards the war-time auxiliaries, the representatives of the two Auxiliary Police Associations have been informed that the Government are prepared to agree to the assimilation of the pay and general conditions of service of members of the Police War Reserve to those of the regular police.

It is hoped that these alterations in conditions of service, for both the regular police and auxiliaries, will come into effect as from 1st April next.

The Government have decided that they cannot agree to the submission to arbitration of questions concerned with the pay and conditions of service of the regular or auxiliary police.

Mr. Parker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware that, excluding war bonus, after four years' service a policeman receives £3 11s. a week; and if he will take immediate steps to bring police pay into line with other classes of public service;

(2) if he is aware that £3 3s. 6d. per week for the first year does not provide enough incentive to attract the right type of men into the police force; and if he will reconsider this figure.

Mr. H. Morrison

The figures quoted by my hon. Friend are not quite accurate. Apart from this, his Questions misrepresent the facts, as he ignores the value of rent and other allowances which in many cases amount to more than £1 a week. I would, however, refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, West (Mr. Montague).