§ Major GLYNasked the Home Secretary what number of police constables in excess of the 1,100 authorised for permanent point duty are now employed in regulation of traffic in the London streets; by how many this number will be reduced on the introduction of automatic street-traffic signals; what is the average annual cost per constable without making any allowance for sickness, etc.; and what is the estimated annual saving of expense if constables relieved from point duty are freed for employment for patrolling, etc.?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe number of constables employed on traffic duty varies to some extent, but is approximately 400 in excess of the figure mentioned in the question. The average annual cost of a constable is approximately £320, without allowing for reliefs for leave, sickness, etc. I regret I cannot say, without further investigation, how many constables could be replaced by traffic signals, but I have no doubt that the1408W number, and the saving in cost, would be considerable. I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport hopes that a beginning will be made before long with the introduction of traffic signals in Oxford Street and elsewhere.