asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by the Metropolitan Police to increase recruitment to the Special Constabulary; and what additional powers special constables have under the state of emergency.

The Commissioner of Police, with the support of the Home Office, has recently been conducting a publicity campaign to stimulate recruitment to the Metropolitan Special Constabulary. There have been displays at a wide variety of places, including shops, libraries and cinemas. As to the second part of the Question, a special constable as such has no additional powers under the Emergency Regulations 1974 now in force; but as a special constable has all the powers of a constable in the area for which he is appointed, the powers available to a constable under the emergency regulations are to that extent available also to a special constable.