42. Mr. De la Bèreasked 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 1828 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 BèreDoes 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. PeakeMy 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. PeakeI am sorry my hon. Friend missed the opportunity of taking part in the Debate on this subject on the Adjournment last Thursday.