§ Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the Home Secretary what is the total number of police stations in the Metropolitan Police area; and what number of reserve policemen are on duty at these stations?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe total number of police stations in the Metropolitan Police area is 195. I do not think it would be in the public interest for me to give the number of reserve policemen on duty at these stations.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Home Secretary what is the estimated number of men who should join the Metropolitan Police force annually in order to maintain it at full strength?
§ Mr. SHORTTOwing to changes in the authorised strength, and other factors, the rate of wastage has varied so widely 697W in different years that no close estimate of general application is possible. At the present time, however, it is at the rate of about 1,000 men per annum, but the circumstances are not normal.