HC Deb 30 July 1942 vol 382 c691
57. Mr. Bowles

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the widow of a police constable with less than five years' police service who is killed on active service cannot be awarded a pension under the Police Pensions Act, 1921; and whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly by adopting the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Police Widows' Pensions?

Mr. H. Morrison

As the consultations with representatives of the police authorities and the police service on the main issues raised by the report of this committee are not yet completed, it is not possible at this stage to deal with recommendations for particular amendments of the existing law, but the point to which my hon. Friend refers has been noted and will not be overlooked.

Miss Rathbone

As the report in question was issued last November and nothing has been done with a number of urgent recommendations which it made, will my right hon. Friend try to see that something is done about it?

Mr. Morrison

It is no good my hon. Friend blaming me in that tone of voice. The difficulty is that the police authorities and the Police Federation have not yet made up their minds about it.

Miss Rathbone

Have the unfortunate widows to wait until they have made up their minds?

Mr. Morrison

It is essential that they should make up their minds before I can consider it.