§ 39. Mr. WILESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the pensionable pay of the Liverpool, Birkenhead, Bootle, and Wallasey police has been increased to such an amount as will entitle the constables of these forces who have 262 completed their period of service to retire on a pension of 31s. 4d. a week at the end of the War, whereas the maximum pension of a Metropolitan constable is 26s. 8d.; and whether he is prepared to adjust the pay of the Metropolitan Police so that their retiring pensions may at least equal those given in the large forces of the Forth of England?
§ Sir G. CAVEI understand that the maximum salary of constables has been increased in the towns mentioned, but the service entitling a constable to maximum pension in Liverpool is appreciably longer than in the Metropolitan Police district. The war bonus payable to the Metropolitan Police has recently been substantially increased at the cost of a heavy addition to the Metropolitan Police rate, and I am not prepared at present to reopen the question.