HC Deb 01 November 1937 vol 328 cc543-4
57. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made by the Government of Palestine for the dependants of its officials murdered in the course of their duty?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

In view of the length of the reply, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

(A) The following provision is made in me Palestine Pension Law for the dependants of an officer who dies as the result of injuries received in the course of duty

If the officer held a pensionable office.—

  1. (1) A pension may be granted to the widow not exceeding ten-sixtieths of the officer's pensionable emoluments at the date of his death, and
  2. (2) small gratuities may be granted to the children if they are under 15 years of age.
  3. (3) If the deceased officer does not leave a widow and his mother was wholly dependent on him for her support, a pension may be granted to the mother at a rate not exceeding that which might have been granted to his widow.
    4. 544
  4. (4) If during the five years preceding his death the officer has held a pensionable office in Palestine or elsewhere, there may be granted to his legal personal representative, in addition to any awards to the widow and children or dependent mother, a gratuity not exceeding one year's pensionable emoluments.
If the officer was not serving in a pensionable office, for example, a constable in the British section of the police, a pension may be granted to the widow (or to the mother where there is no widow and the mother was wholly dependent) and gratuities to the children, if any. In the case of the British Police any such pension may not exceed tensixtieths of twice the constable's pay.

No gratuity is payable under the law to the legal personal representative, in addition, but in practice compassionate gratuities are made to dependent relatives in necessitous cases.

(B) Special awards in cases of assassination.

An assurance has recently been given that in the event of the assassination of an officer the question of compensation to his dependants, in addition to any award payable under the pensions law, will be sympathetically treated, having regard to all the circumstances of the case.