§ Mr. St. John-Stevasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give his consent to 90W the rent allowance increase for Essex policemen authorised by the local police authority.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe Police Council rent allowance agreement of 1957 provides that, in fixing the maximum limit of rent allowances in a force, regard should be had to the prevailing level of rents and rates of all married male members of the force who rent unfurnished accommodation. It is the established practice, endorsed by the Police Council, that where the number of married members renting unfurnished accommodation is only a small proportion of all the members of the force receiving rent allowances, the matter should be referred to the rent conciliation panel of the Police Council for a recommendation.
Only 11 of the 138 marired male members of the Essex force who receive rent allowance occupy unfurnished rented accommodation. Accordingly, when an application was received by my Department for the approval of a new maximum limit, the police authority were advised that the rent conciliation panel should he asked to make a recommendation.