§ Mr. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whom or out of what fund are the police or other officers detailed to protect Ministers paid; who requisitions such services; who determines what should be the form and extent of the protection afforded; what number of men are now employed in such service; and in what manner are they distributed?
§ Mr. McKENNAWhen he finds it necessary, the Commissioner of Police, who is responsible in the matter, employs for the protection of individual Ministers the number of police officers needed for this purpose. The cost is paid from the Police Fund out of the annual contribution made by the Treasury under Section 1 of the Police Act, 1909, in respect of services rendered by the police for Imperial and national purposes. The Commissioner advises me that it would be against the public interest to publish details as to their distribution.