§ 35. Sir FRANK MEYERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether pre-War retired police officers applying for an increase of pension under the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1920 and 1924, are required every year to render a detailed statement of their total means from all sources; and whether it is the practice of the Treasury to refuse or reduce an increase in the pre-War pensions of these police officers according to this statement of means?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Under Section 2 (3) of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, which applies to all classes of pensioners (including police pensioners) covered by the Acts, it is one of the statutory conditions for an increase of pension that the pensioner must satisfy the pension authority that his means, including his pension, are less than £150 per annum if unmarried, or £200 per annum if married. If on examination of his statement it appears that a pensioner fails to comply with this statutory condition, the pension authority have no alternative but to adjust the amount of the increase accordingly.
§ Sir F. MEYERIs it not clear that this kind of condition is a direct preventive of thrift, and is it not time also that something was done to make this a right instead of a charity?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA contribution is made by Parliament, and I do not think that it is quite fair to call it a charity. It is a right by Act of Parliament.