HC Deb 26 July 1923 vol 167 cc694-6
42. Mr. HAYES

asked the Home Secretary the names of the Members and the terms of reference of the Committee to review the conditions of service in the police of England, Scotland, and Wales?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I am glad to say that all the members of the previous Committee, presided over by Lord Desborough, have agreed to serve again. I will circulate the names and terms of reference in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. HAYES

Will the terms of reference provide for the taking of evidence from the service by the Committee before they submit their report, reviewing the decisions of another Committee, which was based on evidence from the service?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

It is not a matter of the terms of reference. The Committee will, of course, have to decide what evidence they will take.

Mr. HAYES

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect the undertaking he gave, that nothing would be done until evidence had been taken from the service?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

I do not remember that.

Following are the names of the Committee, and the terms of reference:

MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE.

TERMS OF REFERENCE.

To consider and report whether any, and if so what, readjustments should be made in the standard conditions of service of the police forces in Great Britain, having regard to the experience now gained of the practical application of the recommendations contained in the Reports of the Committee presided over by Lord Desborough, dated the 1st July, 1919, and the 1st January, 1920, and to the change in economic conditions since those Reports were made.

And in particular to report upon—

  1. (1) the scale of pay to be given to new entrants to the police service;
  2. (2) the question of the adoption of an age limit to qualify for retirement on pension without medical certificate; and
  3. (3) the amount of the rateable deductions towards pensions.