asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what qualifications as shorthand-writers are required of Metropolitan police officers attending political meetings for the purpose of recording remarks which might be the subject of a criminal charge.

Officers employed on this work are required to pass an efficiency test in shorthand for which the minimum speed accepted is 100 words a minute. Many of them can reach higher speeds.

In view of the fact that police reports of Fascist meetings appear at times to conflict with those made by outside competent observers, will my right hon. Friend look into this question or qualifications again because it would be a great pity if the veracity of the police came to be called into question?

I do not think that these qualifications need looking into. If any other person who takes a report is prepared to appear in court in support of it, I will have that report considered to see whether it justifies a prosecution.