§ 69. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the age of the additional inspector of constabulary recently appointed at a salary of £l,000 a year; whether he is in receipt of a State pension; from what Department and of what amount; what will be the retiring age; and whether his new position is also pensionable?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)Mr. Parry is 57. He has a pension of £666 13s. 4d. from the police authorities of Cumberland and Westmorland in respect of his police service. He will be required to retire at 65 unless his service is specially extended. The post is pensionable subject to the usual Civil Service conditions, but Mr. Parry will not be able to qualify for a pension, as distinct from a gratuity, unless his service should be extended beyond the normal retiring age.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONWould it not have been possible to have got someone for this post who was not already in receipt of a pension of £600?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI should think it would have been quite possible, but I wanted to get the best man I could for the post.
§ Sir JAMES REMNANTHow long has this inspector been on pension and out of the service?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSOff-hand, I should think about three years, but I am not sure.
§ Mr. HAYESIn view of the fact that this particular appointment was given to a man who has left the police service for seven years, would it not have been better to have appointed a younger chief constable?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSMy sole object was to get the very best man I could for the post. I saw Mr. Parry personally, and I believe I have got a 1256 man who is thoroughly efficient and who will make a first-rate inspector.