§ 40. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is proposing to take action to improve the rate of pension payable to widows of police officers.
§ Mr. EdeI am at present considering the general question of the effect on the Police Pensions Acts of the new National Insurance scheme and have not excluded from the general review this particular matter.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterDoes that answer mean that the right hon. Gentleman is considering the case of existing widows, and not merely future widows?
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. I am considering both existing widows and those who will become widows in the future, but I would' point out that the police themselves had the opportunity of having this matter dealt with more generously, and declined to make the small additional contribution that would have been required.