§ Mr. PETOasked whether, in the case of a man who joined the Metropolitan Police in the year 1862, after the 17th March, and who served for 26½ years and left prior to the passing of the Superannuation Act of 1890, he will have contributed 7d. a week during the whole period of his services and would receive 18s. 7½d. per week superannuation allowance, whereas if he had joined the force either before the 17th March, 1862, or after 1865, or if he had retired after 1890, in either case he would have received 20s. a week superannuation allowance, and if he had joined before the passing of the 1862 Act he would have paid only 5d. a week, and for that smaller contribution he would receive a larger superannuation allowance; and whether, in these circumstances, he will arrange that men who joined the force between 1862 and 1865 shall draw the same superannuation allowance as those who joined before and after those dates?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere has been no time to verify the details quoted by the hon. Member, but I can say at once that all police officers have been pensioned in accordance with the statutory provisions in force at the date of their retirement, and they have in no case received less pension, and in many cases more than that they agreed to accept in their conditions of service. It would obviously be impossible to review pensions which have been enjoyed for more than twenty years.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right lion. Gentleman inquire how many, or, rather, how few, ex-police officers there are whose services date from between 1862 and 1865 and who are receiving less pension for larger contributions than those whose services commenced earlier or later than those dates?