§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Secretary for Scotland what facilities are offered Scottish police in connection with recruiting; are their positions kept open for them; and in what way is their pay dealt with when with the Colours?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Bethnal Green on the 9th November. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, the men when on service with His Majesty's Forces receive their appropriate naval or military pay and allowances. In addition, allowances may be made to their wives or other dependants by police authorities in terms of the Police Constables (Naval and Military Service) Acts, 1914 and 1915.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked what facilities are offered to police in England and Wales in reference to recruiting; are their positions kept open for them; and in what way is their pay dealt with?
§ Sir J. SIMONAny member of a police force who enlists with the consent of his chief constable has his place kept open for him so that he can return to the force at the end of the War. It is for the police authority to decide how many men can safely be spared. A police officer allowed to enlist does not draw his police pay as well as his Army pay while on military service, but the police authorities are empowered to make allowances to his wife and other dependants in addition to those paid from Army funds, and such allowances are almost invariably given.
§ Mr. KENNEDYalso asked what facilities are offered to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary to recruit; are their positions kept open for them; and in what way is their pay dealt with whilst serving with the Colours?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my replies of the 18th November to the hon. Member for East Limerick, and of the 22nd November to the hon. Member for the Connemara Division of Galway. The positions of policemen who enlist are kept open for them.