§ 19. Mr. Lipsonasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the hardship felt by police officers who retired on or before 31st March, 1918, on weekly pensions of £2 6s. 6d. for an inspector, £1 17s. 6d. for a sergeant and 2236 £1 10s. a constable, whereas the comparable pensions for those who retired on 1st April, 1918, and afterwards are inspector £5 l0s., sergeant £3 12s. 6d. and constable £3 4s. 6d.; and whether he will take steps to increase the pensions of police officers who retired on or before 31st March, 1918?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI am aware that, as a result of the adoption of the recommendation made by the Desborough Committee in July, 1919, that scales of pay should be increased and made retrospective to 1st April of that year, police officers who retired on or after that date received sub stantially higher pensions. Police pensions are governed by Statute and I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of legislation to revise pensions granted before that date beyond the increases which were authorised by the Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1920 and 1924.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the ex-police officers affected by this decision have such confidence in him that they thought that, if the facts were brought to his notice, he would be able to put things right? Are they now to be told that he cannot do anything?
§ Mr. MorrisonI am afraid so. I am sorry to disappoint them. It would be rather a novel principle to make pension increases retrospective to a time when the general rate of pay of the police was lower.
§ Mr. LipsonBut the anomalies are still there.
Miss RathboneIs there not a much better case for increasing the pensions to the widows of police officers, a matter about which there was a unanimous Report 18 months ago?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is another question.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonWill not the right hon. Gentleman review that matter?