Oral Answers to Questions — Police – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 October 1949.
Sir Frank Medlicott
, Norfolk Eastern
12:00,
20 October 1949
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment of police in the Metropolitan area; and what is the present strength.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
The male establishment is 19,747 and the present strength (excluding men seconded or serving overseas) is 15,414. The corresponding numbers for women police are 338 and 249.
Sir Frank Medlicott
, Norfolk Eastern
While those figures appear to show a welcome improvement, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the rate of intake?
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
No, Sir, I am not, but I am glad to say that for the country as a whole August and September of this year were the best months for recruitment to the police force for a very long time.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
