§ Mr. MOSLEYasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the continued increases in the amount of the precepts levied by the Receiver of the Metropolitan Police for police services, which now amount in some districts to a rate of 1s. 4d. in the £; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to deal with the question of the levy of rates and Exchequer grants for police services?
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§ Mr. SHORTTI am aware of the recent increases in the Police Rate. These have been due mainly to the grant to the police of improved rates of pay and pension in accordance with the recommendations of the Desborough Committee and to the bonus given to meet the rise in the cost of living. If prices continue to fall there will be a substantial reduction in police expenditure in the second half of the present financial year. Under present arrangements, adopted in 1918, the net cost of the police is divided equally between the Exchequer and the rates and the Exchequer therefore bears a much larger proportion of the cost than formerly. I am not aware of any good ground for disturbing this arrangement.