HC Deb 20 October 1942 vol 383 cc1827-8
42. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the position of policemen's widows with a view to introducing legislation to make provision for police widows' pensions more related to the circumstances occasioned by the war?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)

A number of proposals regarding the pension scheme for police widows were made by a Departmental Committee presided over by Lord Snell and have been under consideration, but I cannot, at present, add anything on this topic to the reply which was given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland (Mr. Storey) on 1st October.

Mr. De la Bère

Does not my hon. Friend realise that the giving of consideration may mean a short time but that in general, with the Government, it means a long time, and does he not realise the necessity for some immediate action being taken in this matter, in view of the hardship which is being imposed on these women?

Mr. Peake

My hon. Friend will, of course, realise that there is very complex machinery for discussing proposals affecting the police and that the Home Office are not the only body concerned in this matter.

Mr. De la Bère

Does my hon. Friend realise the ugly unreality of all this complex machinery?

Mr. Peake

I am sorry my hon. Friend missed the opportunity of taking part in the Debate on this subject on the Adjournment last Thursday.

Mr. De la Bère

The position still remains unsatisfactory.