§ 58. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that a quarter of the recent applicants for the Metropolitan Police were medically unsuitable and 160W half were rejected on educational and other grounds, what proportions were both medically unfit and educationally deficient; what was the net increase to the force in 1960; and, at the present rate of recruitment, what is the estimated time before the force reaches the required strength.
§ Mr. Renton:Since applicants who fail to pass the medical examination do not take the educational test, it is not possible to answer the first part of the Question.
In 1960, the strength of the Metropolitan Police force decreased by eighty-six. Recruiting has improved since the beginning of this year, but it is too soon to estimate the likely rate of future progress.