§ 28. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Home Secretary whether he has now considered the request for the abolition of Scale B rate of pay of the police; and can he make a statement on this matter?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThe scale referred to was adopted in peace-time—after a careful inquiry by a responsible committee— for new entrants who joined the police service after 30th September, 1931; and it would not be right for me during war-time to re-open the question of increasing the standard scales of police pay. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the increased responsibilities due to the war and the increased cost of living have been met by the grant of supplementary and war duty allowances.
§ 29. Mr. Smithasked the Home Secretary whether he has now considered the questions about police service and 1244 conditions raised by the hon. Member for Stoke; did he consult the Police Federation on the matter, if so, with what results; and is it intended to give a flat-rate cost-of-living bonus to all ranks engaged in police service?
§ Mr. MorrisonI understand that my hon. Friend is referring to the counting of war service in the last war for pension purposes, and the pension position of men who joined the police service between June, 1919, and August, 1921. On the first point, as I stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 2nd October, I am advised that police service in the Armed Forces during the last war counts as approved police service for pension purposes. On the second point, I have been in correspondence with the Police Federation and have explained to them that I have no power to waive the relevant statutory provisions. As regards the proposal that there should be a flat-rate war bonus for all ranks in the police service, when this was previously discussed with the Police Federation I could not see my way to adopt the suggestion, but I understand that the Federation are again bringing the matter up for discussion at a meeting of the Police Council to-morrow.