asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the present shortage of policemen in England and Wales; and what plans he has for improving police recruitment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to Questions on 29th October by the hon. Members for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson), Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) and Sunderland, South (Mr. Bagier).—[Vol. 805, c. 163–4.]

In view of the seriousness of the police recruiting situation, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he has no intention of repeating the policy of the last Government and artificially restricting police recruiting?

I have every intention of strengthening the police forces.

How will the Government's attitude on public service pay affect police pay and police recruitment in future, if police pay does not come up to the level for which the police are asking?

I think that there is a later Question about police pay.

As obviously the question of pay affects the shortage of policemen, and as the Federation has apparently claimed a substantial increase, will the Home Secretary tell the House what instructions he has given to his representative on the Police Council as to the Government's attitude towards police pay?

I thought that the right hon. Gentleman, above all people, would know that when the Police Council reaches an agreement it submits it to me for my decision. It would be impossible for me in advance to announce what my decision is likely to be.

I am not asking to be told what the decision is. I am asking if any instructions—and, if so, what—have been given to the Home Secretary's representative on the Police Council, who is one of the representatives on the official side who decides what offers should be made.

I will certainly not disclose any instructions given in the course of a negotiation. What I will disclose is the undertaking given in our manifesto to strengthen our police forces.