asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the maximum age for enlistment in the police.

The police regulations provide that a male candidate for appointment to a police force must be under 30 years of age and a woman candidate not over 35 years of age, but I have power, which I exercise in all suitable cases, to approve the appointment of candidates over these ages in special circumstances on the recommendation of the appointing authority.

In view of the present shortage does the Home Secretary not consider that the age limit might well be raised slightly?

Where an appointing authority wishes to appoint a man slightly above the age I give my careful consideration to the matter, but it is, of course, desirable that the average age of the police force should not be too high.