asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the statements in the Oaksey Report, what steps he now proposes to take to provide new houses for the police.

The report has only just been published and police authorities have not yet had time to study it. I am however fully aware of the problems caused by the shortage of police housing both in London and elsewhere, and I propose to consult my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health at an early date to consider what further action can be taken in the light of the report.

Could the Minister tell us, approximately, how many houses are required before the police can be said to be decently housed; if he is aware that 30,000 married quarters are to be built for the Armed Forces in the next few years; and if the police are going to get equal treatment?

We do not want 30,000.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get a little closer to his right hon. Friend right away, because until he gets the houses for the police he will never get recruits?

In his consultation with his right hon. Friend, will the Home Secretary consider whether it is practicable to give to police authorities a quota of houses for policemen above that assigned to the local authorities for the civilian population? The number cannot be great over the whole nation.

I am going to discuss the matter with my right hon. Friend.