HC Deb 05 March 1925 vol 181 cc612-4
11. Mr. HAYES

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that ex-Constable Balder-stone, of the Accrington Borough Police, was granted a certificate of approved service to 26th May, 1919, 56 days after the Desborongh scale of pay came into operation; and why, therefore, this officer's pension was not based on this scale instead of on the pre-Desborough scale which he is at present receiving?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)

As the hon. Member will be aware from the full statement furnished to him by my predecessor, this case is peculiar in that Balderstone retired from the rank of sergeant as from the 31st March, 1919, but was permitted a month later to rejoin the force as a constable, for one month, in order to enable him to qualify for a higher pension calculated upon his actual retiring salary instead of a three years' average. In these circumstances, the Watch Committee came to the conclusion that Balder-stone was not entitled to have his pension reassessed on the basis of the Desborough scale of pay subsequently introduced.

Mr. HAYES

As it is a question of law, will the right hon. Gentleman take the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown in the case?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I hardly think that is necessary. I will consider it with my own legal advisers.

Sir JAMES REMNANT

If the Home Office agreed in this case to the reinstatement of the man why did they refuse in the somewhat similar case of Inspector Davies, of the Cardiff Force?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

This took place in 1919, when I was certainly not responsible for the Home Office, and it is impossible that I should answer for what happened in a similar case then.

33. Major HORE-BELISHA

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Metropolitan and City Police Pensioners' Association is confined to men who join the Association within 18 months of leaving the service; and, seeing that police pensioners who have replaced the men in the museums are engaged through this Association, and that men who omitted to join the Association on leaving the Force are thus shut out from these positions, whether, in these circumstances, he would make recommendations to those whose duty it is to engage the police pensioners to give some consideration to those pensioners who, being under 60 years of age, do not benefit by the Pensions (Increase) Acts?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I understand that the trustees of the British Museum would be happy to give consideration to applications from any such pensioners, when there are vacancies to fill.

42. Sir JAMES REMNANT

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that Section 23 of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, enables every police authority to make regulations in respect to the mode in which pensions are to be paid, he will take steps to ensure that police pensioners from provincial forces, who in some eases have to submit to a deduction of 5½d. a fortnight from their pensions to cover the cost of poundage and postage, shall be placed in the same position as pensioners from the Metropolitan police, who are paid their pensions in full?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

This is a matter which I think should be left to the police authorities under the section to which the hon. Baronet refers.

Sir J. REMNANT

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether such deductions as these were taken into consideration when the pensions were fixed, and if they were not, will he see that in future pensions are paid in full?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I cannot answer as to the question of fact. If my hon. Friend will look at Section 23 of the Pensions Act, 1921, he will see that the local authority have power to make regulations. I do not think I have power to alter them.

Sir J. REMNANT

In such a case as this, where an obvious injustice is done, have the Home Office not power to put it right?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Is not the right course for someone to intervene in the local authority, some member of the local authority? They may have their reasons: I do not know.

Major HORE-BELISHA

Is not the Act obligatory on local authorities?