§ 59. Mr. G. Darlingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the required strength of the Metropolitan Police force; the present strength; and how many Metropolitan policemen are engaged on duties concerned with road traffic.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 28th June to a Question by the hon. Member for Rossendale (Mr. Anthony Greenwood); and as regards the last part, I would refer him to the reply which I gave on 26th April to a Question by the hon. Member for Bristol, Central (Mr. Awbery). The strength of the Metropolitan Police on 30th June was 15,684 men and 507 women.
§ 60. Mr. Holtasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how far below establishment strength are the police forces of the Lancashire county and the borough of Bolton.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe authorised establishment of the Lancashire county police force is 2,871 men and 94 women. On 30th June there was a deficiency of 167 men and 27 women. The authorised establishment of the Bolton borough police force is 255 men and nine women. On 30th June there was a deficiency of 19 men.
§ 61. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recruits are needed, both men and women, to bring the police force in Staffordshire up to the number it is considered necessary by the chief constable for efficient policing in that county.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeThe authorised establishment of the Staffordshire county police force is 1,135 men and 75 women. The deficiency in strength on 30th June 105W was 84 men and 20 women. The question whether an increase in the authorised establishment is desirable is in the first instance a matter for the Standing Joint Committee, who have not submitted to me any proposals for an increase.