§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the award of an 18 per cent. increase in salaries to the police; how many police will be affected; by what amounts; and when he proposes to implement the award.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Police Council reached agreement on new pay scales on 25th February. About 100,000 police officers in Great Britain will be affected. Full particulars of the new scales will be 151W contained in an amendment to Police Regulations which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I intend to lay before the House later this month.
The increases, designed particularly to reduce wastage, vary widely and it would be misleading to quote an average percentage increase. The overall cost of the new scales will amount to 10 per cent. for the common increase, plus a little over 6 per cent. for the special increases designed to strengthen the police.