§ 47. Mr. Wadeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to enable police officers who are permanently injured in the course of duty to receive benefits not less favourable than would be received if the injury came within the provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. C. M. Woodhouse)Police officers are already covered by the Industrial Injuries Acts in the same way as other employed persons. If the circumstances in which they are injured on duty do not come within the provisions of these Acts, they are eligible for an award under the police pensions scheme.
§ Mr. WadeIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are circumstances where a police officer may be injured in arresting a criminal or in carrying out other police duties, and that the disablement award may be less favourable than if he suffered accident or disease covered by the Industrial Injuries Act? Would it not be just to treat police officers in all circumstances at least as fairly and generously as if they were covered by the Industrial Injuries Act?
§ Mr. WoodhouseThat is the intention. I am aware that there are special circumstances, and I thought it possible that the hon. Gentleman had in mind a particular case, although my researches did not reveal to me what they could be. The Police Pensions Regulations are inevitably complex and I do not think that they can usefully he discussed by question and answer. If the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me about any case he has in mind, I can assure him of sympathetic attention.