HC Deb 27 July 1908 vol 193 cc879-80
MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to difficulties which have arisen in connection with the transfer of police from Glamorgan County Council to the new borough police force at Merthyr Tydfil; and whether he will take such action as may be necessary to safeguard the existing pension rights of such constables as may be so transferred.

MR. HERBERT SAMUEL

The pension rights of constables depend on statute and are independent of any action the Home Secretary can take, but my right hon. friend does not think that any difficulty need arise. No constable need enter the new force except by his own wish. If a constable who has three years service or upwards is transferred on a mutual agreement between the police authorities, he carries his pension rights with him. If there is no such agreement the constable ought, before joining the borough force, to have an undertaking from the police authority of the borough, to allow his previous service of three years and upwards to count for pension.