HC Deb 02 October 1941 vol 374 cc707-9
44. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that police pensioners who have returned to the service for the duration of the war have not been granted the cost-of-living bonus; and whether he will make arrangements for the same cost-of-living bonus to be paid as is paid to other grades of the police?

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

Re-engaged police pensioners continue to receive their pensions in addition to their pay, and in these circumstances I have not felt justified in recommending police authorities to grant them the supplementary allowances payable to the regular police.

55. Mr. Smith

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that police officers who have been retained in the service after the completion of full service have not been granted the cost-of-living bonus; and will he make arrangements for the cost-of-living bonus to be paid?

Mr. Morrison

The point which my hon. Friend has in mind is that when supplementary allowances were granted, an allowance of 12½ per cent. which had been previously granted to certain officers was reduced by the amount of the new supplementary allowances. The 12½ per cent. had been payable to men who but for the war would have been entitled to retire on pension at the maximum rate and had been granted for the purpose of reducing the inequality between their position and that of re-engaged pensioners who receive their pension as well as their pay. When this inequality was mitigated by the grant of supplementary allowances there was no justification for giving these retained men both the supplementary allowance and the allowance of 12½ per cent.

56. Mr. Smith

asked the Home Secretary whether he will arrange for the 1914–1919 war service in the Armed Forces to count as approved police service, in the same way that other Government Departments and other concerns have, or allow the ex-service men who joined the Force between June, 1919, and August, 1921, whose conditions of service were altered under the provisions of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, extending their period of service from 26 years to 30 years, to qualify for a full pension at 26 years?

Mr. Morrison

I am advised that the effect of the relevant enactments is that war service in the Armed Forces during the last war counts as approved police service for pension purposes. As regards the second part of the Question, under the Police Pensions Act, 1921, the 30-year scale of ordinary pensions applies to all men who joined a police force on or after 1st July, 1919, and I have no power to waive this statutory provision.

Mr. Smith

There are some reasonable grievances arising out of these Questions. Will my right hon. Friend undertake personally to meet the Police Federation in order to go into these matters?

Mr. Morrison

The Police Federation are in regular contact with the Home Office. I have met them already on a number of points, and, of course, I shall be prepared to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion; but there is existing contact between the Police Federation and the Department.

Mr. Smith

That is so, but in view of the reasonable grievances and of the contribution which these men have made to the services of the State, will my right hon. Friend himself be prepared to meet the Police Federation on these questions?

Mr. Morrison

I will consider that, but I must look up how far the points have been discussed. I do not, however, accept the view that these are reasonable grievances.

67. Mr. Rostron Duckworth

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation during the next Session to give effect to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Police Widows' Pensions?

Mr. Morrison

The Committee's recommendation is under consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement as to the prospects of legislation.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that before any legislation is introduced there will be the maximum consultations with the Police Federation?

Mr. Morrison

The report is already before the Police Federation for their observations.

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