HC Deb 21 May 1936 vol 312 cc1390-1W
Mr. BENJAMIN SMITH

asked the Home Secretary whether the office of secretary of the Metropolitan Police is an appointment filled from the Civil Service at the discretion of the Commissioner or Receiver of the Metropolitan Police, or whether the appointment is open to applicants from the Army, Navy or Air Force services; and whether he will state the salary and pension conditions of the appointment?

Sir J. SIMON

Any appointment to the post of Secretary of the Commissioner's Office would be made on the recommendation of the Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of State, and the best available candidate would be selected whether from inside or outside the office. The salary attached to the post is £1,650 a year, and the pension conditions, which are laid down under the Metropolitan Police Staff (Superannuation) Acts, are similar to those applying in the Civil Service.

Mr. BENJAMIN SMITH

asked the Home Secretary whether it is part of the duties of the secretary of the Metropolitan Police to issue orders or exercise control over or in any way interfere in connection with the duties of the regular police?

Sir J. SIMON

The officer referred to is a member of the Commissioner's staff and as such it is part of his duty to give directions on behalf of the Commissioner on any matters assigned to him in the scheme of work at Scotland Yard.

Lieut.-Colonel SANDEMAN ALLEN

asked the Home Secretary the number of police in the Metropolitan police area engaged upon traffic duty as at the last convenient date, as compared with the corresponding date in 1931; and whether he has any proposals under consideration for an alteration in the present strength of traffic police?

Sir J. SIMON

A special investigation held over a period of a week last autumn disclosed that 642 police officers were employed exclusively on traffic work and that part-time traffic duties occupied the equivalent of the whole time of 2,389 officers. No comparable figures are available for 1931. No proposal for altering the strength of police on traffic duties is under my consideration at the moment.