§ 27. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that widows of police officers who died before the Police Pensions (Scotland) Regulations, 1948, came into 1020 force are not entitled to apply for a discretionary supplementation of pension, whereas widows of police officers dying thereafter are so entitled; and whether he will remove this anomaly.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartAll police widows not entitled to National Insurance pensions other than the widows of officers above the rank of inspector who died before 5th July, 1948, may have their pensions supplemented; but the maximum amount of the supplement is greater in the case of those widows whose husbands died after 5th July, 1948, and accordingly had contributed under the National Insurance Scheme. The position was discussed in the debate on the draft Police Pensions Regulations on 9th December last, and no amendment of the Regulations is contemplated.
§ Mr. MacphersonDoes the reply mean that supplementary pensions can be given on a discretionary basis, both in respect of those who died before that date and of those who died after it?
§ Mr. StewartThis is a complicated matter. If my hon. Friend would care to do so, I will do my best after Questions to discuss it and explain it to him. I confess that it is very difficult, as the House will recollect from the course of the recent debate.