asked the Home Secretary the number, situation, and sizes of police sports grounds in the Metropolitan police area; and whether such grounds, or any of them, are used by persons other than members of the police force or those playing matches with them?

As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary the area of the police sports ground at Hendon; the price paid for the land; what amount of money has since been spent on the ground and the purposes for which it was spent; and will he give similar information in regard to the Imber Court sports ground, giving separately the cost of the sports pavilion?

As the answer includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary the cost, including the equipment thereof, of the police wireless station at West Wickham?

The cost is estimated at about £43,000. This includes site building and equipment.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the comment made by a London coroner recently on the unsatisfactory nature of the present type of van used for the conveyance of prisoners; and whether he will take steps to see that when new vans are provided they are of a more commodious type?

The main objection arises from the provision of separate compartments for each prisoner, and the scheme of separate compartments was adopted because of the obvious risk of association. Any increase in the space provided for each person, consistently with reasonable economy, would involve technical difficulties, but the matter will be borne in mind when any vans are due for replacement. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to improve the lighting and ventilation of the present vans.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if any man is slightly over average height he cannot sit down in the van, except in a very cramped position?

No, Sir. I think that is an exaggeration. I am informed that the knee space is somewhat bigger in these vans than in a London bus.

Will the right hon. Gentleman invite his colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, to sit in one of these vans?

asked the Home Secretary the average cost of training a student at the Metropolitan Police training school?

I understand that the hon. Member refers to the cost of the training of a candidate for appointment as a constable in the Metropolitan Police Force. The average cost is about £21.

asked the Home Secretary why, out of 3,628 students trained at the Metropolitan Police training college during the five years ended 31st March, 1937, only 2,883 are now serving in the Metropolitan Police Force?

About 14 per cent. of the wastage is due to discharges during the probationary period or retirements on ill health or on disciplinary grounds. As regards voluntary resignations, a man is not obliged to assign any reason, but, so far as records are available, 232 men resigned to take up other employment (including the Defence Forces), 157 to join or apply to join other police forces at home or overseas, 24 because police work proved uncongenial, and 23 because they were dissatisfied with their prospects.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it very unsatisfactory that, after a considerable sum has been spent on training these men, such a large proportion leave the service?

I am informed that the numbers are not abnormal, and do not compare unfavourably with statistics for other services.

Is the whole cost of training these men borne by the Metropolitan Police Fund, or is part of it paid by the locality to which a man ultimately goes?

There is another question on that subject on the Paper to-day.

asked the Home Secretary particulars of any decision that has been taken with regard to the scheme of admitting to the Police College persons desiring to serve in the Colonial police service?

Arrangements have been made with the Colonial Office to admit annually to the Metropolitan Police College, for a one-year course of training, not more than 10 candidates who have been definitely selected by the Secretary of State for the Colonies for appointment to the Colonial Police Service. The first Colonial police candidates (nine in number) were admitted for the course which began in September, 1937.

Have these men to pay their own expenses?

The Colonial Office pays expenses.

asked the Home Secretary the number of men trained by the Metropolitan Police during the last five years who have been transferred, resigned, or been discharged from the Metropolitan Police Force and are now serving with another police force; and what steps are being taken, or does he propose to take, to reimburse the Metropolitan Police Fund in respect of the training of these men?

Figures are available only for the period 1934 to 1937, during which 157 men resigned from the Metropolitan Police Force to join, or to apply to join, other police forces at home or overseas. It is not known how many of them are now so serving. No claim is made for reimbursement of the cost of training.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is rather hard on the London rates that a special contribution should have to be made to the Police Fund, and would he consider if some arrangement should be made with other police authorities to prevent this deliberate recruitment of London-trained police?

I think that if there were any widespread recruitment of these men the position might have to be reconsidered, but I think that the number at present would not justify that reconsideration.

Is the Minister aware that this means another £13,000 on the Police Fund?

Where are the Liberal party to-day?

At the B.B.C.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police officers who have been trained by the Metropolitan Police during each of the last five years, and how many of these men are still serving with the Metropolitan Police?

As the answer includes a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.