§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary whether he has been asked to meet a deputation of constables of the Metropolitan Police on the question of wages; whether he is aware that similar deputations have been received by several of the provincial police authorities; and whether he proposes to give the men of the Metropolitan Police an opportunity to lay their claim before him in a similar manner?
Mr. SAMUELThere is a recognised procedure by which the members of the Metropolitan Police Force may make representations, but no such representation on the question of wages has been received by me or by the Commissioner. Being fully aware, however, of the circumstances of the force, I have recently approved the grant of an additional war bonus on the lines stated to the House in answer to questions on 12th October. The secretary of an unauthorised and unrepresentative association sent me a request to receive a general deputation of police and prison officers. I do not propose to accede to it.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary if he will state how many applications from police officers have been received during the past six months by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for financial assistance from the relief fund on account of debts incurred; and whether inquiries have shown that these debts are due to the inadequacy of the police pay in the lower ranks to meet the increased cost of living?
Mr. SAMUELThe Relief Fund is a police private charitable fund, over which I have no control. The Commissioner informs me, however, that the number of applications received during the six months ending 30th September was seventy-one, as compared with 113 during the corresponding six months of 1914. The cause of the application was in every case illness of family or other domestic affliction.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Home Secretary whether the Regulation safeguarding police officers in the impartial performance of their duty by prohibiting them from taking other employment, and so placing themselves under financial obligation to members of the public, has been suspended or withdrawn; and, if so, whether this was due to financial distress amongst the constables?
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Mr. SAMUELThe Regulation in question has been neither suspended nor withdrawn, but owing to the shortage of men provision was made in August, 1916, whereby police officers may during war time accept employment in their own time if national interests can be thereby served. Special sanction has to be obtained in each case, the only sanction hitherto given (save in one instance) being for constables to assist in harvesting operations.