§ Sir J. SIMONasked the Home Secretary whether he is considering the appointment of a chief officer for the women police in different parts of the country; and, if so, whether he proposes to set up a special Department at the Home Office to deal entirely with the work, employment, etc., of women police and to report to His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary on such matters as he may desire regarding the women police?
Mr. HENDERSONIn any force where there is a substantial number of women there are advantages in arranging, without prejudice to the ordinary responsibility of officers under whom the women may be working, for matters affecting the welfare and general conditions of service of the women police to be brought within the purview of the senior woman police officer of the force; and an arrangement of this kind has been made in the metropolis. As regards the second part of the question, I hope that before long it will be possible to review the experience now gained of the employment of police women under varying conditions in different parts of the country, and that as a result of such a review a definite step forward may be made. The question of the possibility of increased employment of police women and of the organisation which would be appropriate if the numbers grow will necessarily arise in connection with this review.