§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there is any possibility now of the fulfilment of the promises made by successive Governments for 22 years to Constabulary Forces, that the question of their superannuation shall be brought before Parliament for legislation?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.The question of police superannuation was delayed by the Local Government legislation of last year, which made it expedient to wait till the County Councils were in working order before saddling them with a new burden. Moreover, the principles of superannuation for the Civil Service, which must have an influence on police superannuation, and which has recently been reported on by the Royal Commission, is still under the consideration of the Treasury, and I am not at present in a position to introduce legislation on this subject, the interest and importance of which are fully present to the mind of the Government.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT (Sussex, N.W.)May I ask if it will not be possible to send to the County Councils some tentative scheme approved by the Government, although not to be regarded as a definite scheme, so that the same principle might be more or less acted upon throughout the whole of the Country. As matters stand at the present, every County Council may give what retiring allowance they please.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe suggestion thrown out by my hon. and gallant Friend appears to me to be worthy of careful and serious consideration. At this moment I am having an actuarial calculation made, but it is a calculation which is extremely intricate and difficult to settle. It may, however, be an assistance in forming an ultimate decision on the subject.