HC Deb 28 February 1922 vol 151 cc240-1
25. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALL

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any actuarial calculations were made as to the cost, now and here- after, prior to its introduction, of the Police Pensions Act, 1921; and, if so, whether he will state the results of such calculations?

Sir J. BAIRD

I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension as to the effect of the Police Pensions Act of last Session. The main provisions of the scheme of police pensions were laid down, not by that Act, but by the Police Act of 1890, and various amending Statutes of later date. The operation of the scheme was the subject of exhaustive actuarial investigation in 1913. The Act of last Session was an Act to consolidate previous Statutes and embody various Amendments recommended by the Desborough Committee and, though these recommendations were not submitted for actuarial investigation, there were ample data for concluding that their net effect will be in the long run to effect a considerable reduction in the cost of police pensions.