asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total approved police establishment for Scotland, and the actual numbers in post at the latest convenient date.

As a result of recent increases, at 31st October last, the authorised establishment of the service was 10,343 men and 383 women; the actual strength was 9,469 men and 331 women.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the urgent need to try to achieve the approved establishment for the Scottish police? Has it been drawn to his attention that one of the reasons expressed in police circles for the difficulty in recruiting men and women is a tendency to criticism in high places, even including the House of Commons? Will he try to make it clear that we have the utmost confidence in our Scottish police and fully appreciate the excellent way in which they carry out their duties?

My hon. Friend will be aware that I have been one of the first to resist this unfair criticism of our police force. I do not doubt that it has an effect on the morale of the police, and I deplore such attacks. But my hon. Friend may be aware that if he had asked me this question about six months ago he would have been told that the amount of under-establishment then was half the present under-establishment. The present position really reflects the increase in establishment brought about by the introduction of the shorter working week on 1st July this year.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that Scottish police forces have been rising steadily both in numbers and quality?

Yes, they have been rising in both numbers and quality, but we must get up to establishment. We cannot be complacent about this situation. We need more recruits of the quality that we are getting at the moment.