§ 25. Mr. WILESasked the Home Secretary what extra remuneration he pro- 1523 poses to recommend for the members of the Metropolitan Police Force; and, if so, on what date it will come into force?
§ 26. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the delay in announcing any decision as regards a further war bonus to officers and men of the Metropolitan Police Force is causing disappointment and also hardship amongst the older and married men of the force; in view of the Adjournment, can he see his way to make a decision; and, if not, can he state when he can do so?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave)I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave on this subject on the 24th July.
§ 29. Captain BARNETTasked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken to provide policemen discharged from the Army who are found unfit for ordinary police duty with employment at Scotland Yard or in the museums and picture galleries?
§ 40. Mr. GILBERTasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Secretary for Scotland has addressed a circular letter to certain police authorities in Scotland recommending them to reinstate, wherever possible, members of their forces who have been discharged from the Army; that the circular points out that a disability which unfits a man for naval or military service may not preclude him from the efficient performance of police duty, more particularly the lighter kinds, for which even the loss of a limb need not necessarily be a disqualification; and whether, in view of the desirability of obtaining some uniformity in this matter, he will send out similar instructions to the police authorities of England and Wales, some of whom, acting on the recommendation of their police surgeons, are declining to reinstate men suffering from the disabilities described in the second paragraph of this question?
§ Sir G. CAVEI will carefully consider both these suggestions.
§ 30. Captain BARNETTasked the Home Secretary why policemen who have been discharged from the Army and subsequently from the police force are denied all benefits under a superannuation scheme to which they have contributed for years; 1524 and why the receipt of a disablement pension should prevent or postpone the enjoyment of rights which have accrued by virtue of such contributions?
§ Sir G. CAVEPolice pensions are only payable from public funds in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 1890, as modified by subsequent legislation. If the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of the cases of hardship which he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.
§ 31. Mr. WILESasked the Home Secretary what is the amount paid from police funds to the wives of Metropolitan constables who have joined the Army with the permission of the Commissioner; and whether the amount is fixed or is increased in accordance with the amount of the war bonus granted to the police as provided by the Police and Factories (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1916?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe allowance made from the Metropolitan Police Fund to the wives and children of constables serving in the Army, in addition to the Army allowances, is 15s. a week for the wife and 2s. 6d. for each child under fifteen years of age, subject always to the limit fixed by the Act of 1914. This limit was raised, so as to take into account the police war bonus, not by the Act referred to in the question but by the Police Constables (Naval and Military Service) Act, 1917. All allowances which were limited by the earlier Act were revised after the passing of the Act of 1917.