§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Home Secretary why the Home Office is seeking to compel local councils to increase their police forces, their police apparatus and, in some cases, their police buildings beyond local requirements, to comply with arbitrary standards that local circumstances do not require; and whether he will arrange for central grants to be scaled in future with a view to economy?
§ Sir S. HoareAs regards the first part of the question, police authorities are required to increase the establishment or provide equipment or buildings for the police force only where necessary for the efficient maintenance of the police service in the police district concerned, and to comply with the conditions attached to the Exchequer grant. As regards the second part of the question, the grant is a fixed percentage of the approved net expenditure, and the conditions should be adequate to secure due economy.