§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Home Secretary whether he was aware that merchants and others in the Aberdare Valley who supplied provisions and materials to the Metropolitan Police during their recent stay in South Wales have not had their accounts paid; whether the Glamorgan County Council repudiates liability for these accounts; whether, as a consequence, some of the merchants are being seriously embarrassed, and all of them inconvenienced; and whether, pending a final decision on the question of liability, he will authorise the payment by the Treasury of the accounts in question?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no information as to the accounts in question; but I have invited the Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee to come and see me to discuss the matter.
§ Mr. ASHLEYasked from what other sources, besides the Metropolitan area, police were drawn during the late disturbances in Glamorganshire; and whether the Glamorgan County Council have refused to pay, not only for the Metropolitan Police, but also for the men drawn from other districts?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn addition to the Metropolitan and the Glamorganshire police, the police engaged on special duty in connection with the disturbances mentioned were drawn from four counties, namely, Carmarthen, Monmouth, Gloucester, and Brecon; and five boroughs, namely, Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Merthyr Tydvil, and Newport. I am informed that it is only in the case of the Metropolitan Police that the County Council have refused to pay.