§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up a committee to inquire into and report upon the whole question of police pensions as affecting those pensioners who retired before the 1st April, 1919, and those widows of police pensioners who retired before September, 1918, with a view to readjusting the present anomalies and to bringing the pensions of the less fortunate up to the higher scale?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)I do not think there is any ground for the appointment of a committee to inquire into this subject.
§ 22. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Home Secretary, with reference to his offer specially to consider the case of those police pensioners who were advised to retire from the service prior to the new scale of pensions which came into force in April, 1919, how many applications his Department has received for such special consideration; whether he has been able in any case to arrive at a decision favourable to those concerned; and whether he will state what the estimated cost would be of making a general concession in this matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member has brought to my notice four cases of the kind referred to. In three of these cases my inquiries have disclosed no ground on which I could suggest that the pension should be reassessed, and in 1116 the fourth case my inquiries are not yet complete. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply to the hon. Member's previous question on the 2nd March.
Captain ARTHUR EVANHas the right hon. Gentleman received any cases from anywhere else, besides from the hon. and gallant Member for Devonport (Major Hore-Belisha)?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI do not think I have had any cases brought to my personal notice, but, of course, I cannot answer for others.
§ Mr. HAYESWill the right hon. Gentleman cause the files to be examined on this matter, when I think he will find that there have been numerous cases brought to his notice, which would justify the appointment of a committee and would save the right hon. Gentleman a good deal of work?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the hon. Member informs me that, of his knowledge, cases have been put before me, I will, of course, inquire into them.
§ Major HORE-BELISHADoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that the whole question might be reopened, in view of the very grave hardship involved?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. and gallant Member knows that there always must be a date fixed, and on one side or another there is nearly always hardship.