HC Deb 19 December 1921 vol 149 cc394-5
23. Sir JAMES REMNANT

asked the Home Secretary if he will refer to the Law Officers of the Crown the question of whether local police authorities have the right and power to alter at their discretion the rates of pay and pension in force since the 1st April, 1919?

Mr. SHORTT

I do not think there is any occasion for me to refer to the Law Officers on this question. The scales of pay for sergeants and constables in all forces are now fixed by the Police Regulations, and cannot be altered without amendment of the Regulations. The scales of pay for the higher ranks in every force are, by the Regulations, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, and cannot be altered without the like approval. The rates of pension are governed by the Police Pensions Act of last Session, and cannot be altered without legislation.

Sir J. REMNANT

Have the local authorities, therefore, no power of their own discretion to alter these scales of pay and pension?

Mr. SH0RTT

The local authorities, as my answer states, have no discretion in this case. The question put down to-day is a very different one from that which was put down on Friday.

Sir J. REMNANT

Is not my present question exactly the same as the question I asked on Friday, when I asked for an answer yes or no, and got neither the one nor the other?

Mr. SH0RTT

No, Sir, nothing of the kind. The question put down on Friday was a totally different question altogether from this, and it was answered fully and completely.

Sir J. REMNANT

Is not the question which I have put on the Paper to-day exactly the same question to which, on Friday, I asked for an answer, yes or no?.

Mr. SHORTT

I understood, of course, that the supplementary question had to do with the question on the Paper.

Sir J. REMNANT

It was put plainly enough, at all events.