HC Deb 03 March 1920 vol 126 cc465-6W
Mr. MACQUISTEN

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the local authorities for Banffshire, Bute, Caithness, Forfarshire, Inverness-shire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherlandshire, and Wigtonshire have not adopted for their police forces either of the scales of pay recommended in the Desborough Report to be paid as from 1st April, 1919, and that the constables in these forces are only in receipt of 40s. per week and war bonus and 2s. 6d. per child of school age, and sergeants and inspectors at corresponding rates; and whether, in view of the discontent caused thereby, he will forthwith bring into operation the powers committed to him under Section 4 of The Police Act, 1919, and so compel these authorities to pay their forces at the same rates as the other authorities in Scotland who have acted on the Desborough Report and to make such payments retrospective?

Mr. MUNRO

The position is as stated in the first part of the question, except that the constables' scale in the forces mentioned (apart from war bonus) rises by increments to 50s. per week. The matter is at present receiving my consideration as one of urgency.