§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Home Secretary how many joint executive committee meetings of the Metropolitan Police were held in each of the years 1921, 1922, 1923, and how many have been held up to the present date in this year, respectively; whether permission has been refused to hold any such meetings; and, if so, whether he will state the reasons for such refusal?
Mr. HENDERSONEight such meetings were held in 1921, six in 1922, nine in 1923, and four have been held so far in 1924. Permission was refused for one meeting proposed to be held in March last, the reason being that the Commissioner did not consider that sufficient cause had been shown for the holding of a further meeting at that time. These meetings are not statutory, and sanction for them to be held is a matter resting entirely in the discretion of the Commissioner. No previous request had been refused, but I am informed that there is a tendency to multiply the number of such meetings, which are additional to the meetings of the respective Boards and to the meetings of their Executive Committees.