HC Deb 21 January 1943 vol 386 cc321-2W
Sir I. Albery

asked the Home Secretary what alterations he has made to his proposals for amalgamating police forces, consequent upon his consultation with the authorities concerned?

Mr. H. Morrison

After considering the representations made to me by the authorities concerned, I have come to the conclusion that the schemes of amalgamation should proceed on the lines which I proposed: but that as suggested by some authorities, the new authority which will be responsible for an amalgamated force should be empowered to delegate some of its functions to a constituent authority, and to make arrangements with the Council of a constituent area to perform certain duties on behalf of the joint authority, any such delegation or arrangement to be subject to any directions which the Secretary of State may think it desirable to give. Such delegation will not, of course, be allowed to go so far as would in effect frustrate the unity which amalgamation is intended to achieve.