§ Mr. GILBERTalso asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the present number of single constables in the Metropolitan Police Force and the reason why the Commissioner has refused some of these men permission to join the Army; and can he state the number of police pensioners who have been re-employed in the force and the number of pensioners who have not yet been called up?
Mr. SAMUELThe number of single men in the Metropolitan Police Force on the 23rd February last was 4,212, of whom a considerable proportion are engaged on naval and military protection duty. The reasons why more of these men cannot be spared were given at some length by my predecessor, in reply to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green, on the 3rd November last. The total number of ex-members of the force in receipt of pensions is between 9,000 and 9,500. Only a proportion of these are physically fit for active police duty, and there has been some difficulty in maintaining the strength of 1,200 pensioners authorised to be employed, owing to the profitable field for employment elsewhere. The number at present serving is 1,128.