§ Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary what are the present rent allowances made to constables and officers of the Metropolitan Police Force; whether these allowances have recently been reduced; is he aware that there is dissatisfaction as to the amounts of these allowances at the present time; has he made any recent inquiry into the matter; and, if not, will he undertake to do so with a view of remedying the complaints of the men in the police force?
2015W
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe rent allowances for the several ranks are the actual amounts paid in rent, rates and taxes up to the following maxima:
but the allowances have, since April last, been subject to a deduction from the stated maximum at the rate of 7s. 6d. a week for superintendents, 5s. 6d. a week for inspectors, 4s. 6d. a week for sergeants and 3s. 6d. a week for constables. Representations regarding these and other deductions which took effect from the same date have been submitted by the Metropolitan branch boards, and a deputation from the sergeants' board was received by my predecessor in July last: but as the deductions formed part of the general scheme for securing economies in police expenditure and were settled after a full discussion at the Police Council in March last, there appeared to be no sufficient ground for reviewing them. The question will have to come before the Council again before the end of the financial year, but I cannot say what decision will be reached.
- Superintendents, £80 per annum,
- Inspectors, 20s. a week,
- Sergeants, 17s. a week,
- Constables, 14s. 6d. a week;