§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD REAYMy Lords, this is a very simple measure to which I ask your Lordships to give a Second Reading. It makes a slight alteration in the case of pensions as regards constables who come under Section 1 (b) of the principal Act, i.e., retiring under medical certificate as having been incapacitated for duty by infirmity of mind or body, after twenty years approved service. At present such cases come under the general scale, Part I. of First Schedule to the principal Act, i.e., if over twenty and under twenty-one years approved service, an annual sum equal to twenty-sixtieths of annual pay is given them; if completed twenty-one and under twenty-eight years approved service, an annual sum equal to twenty-sixtieths of annual pay, plus one-sixtieth for every year over twenty years; if completed twenty-eight years approved service, an annual sum equal to twenty-eight-sixtieths of annual pay, plus two-sixtieths for every year over twenty-eight years, but not to exceed two-thirds of annual pay.
What is proposed in this Bill is in cases under Section 1 (b) of the principal Act—that is, cases of constables retiring under medical certificate as having been incapacitated for duty by infirmity of mind or body—to substitute, in those cases and in those cases only, the following provision: if completed twenty-one years or over approved service, an annual sum equal to twenty-sixtieths of annual pay, plus two-sixtieths for every year over twenty years, but not to exceed two-thirds of annual pay. This change is of a very limited character and it applies only to a limited class, and even after this Bill has been accepted the position of constables in Scotland will be less favourable than that of constables in England and Wales under the English Police Act of 1890, 53 and 54 Vict., c. 45, s. 1 and First Schedule.
972 Besides the slight amendment in the scale of pension, the Bill proposes to embody several sections of the English Police (Superannuation) Act of 1906. Clause 6 of this Bill (Pensions to constables continuing to serve after qualification for pension), Clause 7 (Reckoning of discontinuous service as approved service for pension), Clause 8 (Reckoning of approved service in different forces), Clause 9(Approved service in case of Naval and Army Reservists), Clause 10 (Amendment of 53 and 54 Vict., c. 67, as to forfeiture of pensions), Clause 13 (Age of compulsory retirement), Clause 14 (Amendment of Section 4 of principal Act)—all these are clauses which you will find in the English Act of 1906, and as they have been accepted for England and worked well, it is desirable that the Scottish legislation should be assimilated.
There only remain Clauses 11 and 12. Clause 11 makes a change in the age of appointment and transfer. It extends the age limit for transferred persons, which is intended mainly for special cases and to prevent undue hampering of efficiency by too strict a limit. Clause 12 relates to the investment of the pension fund. I believe my noble friend the Secretary for Scotland has no objection to this Bill, which comes from another place as an agreed Bill, and therefore it is with confidence that I ask your Lordships to give it a Second Reading.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Reay.)
§ LORD PENTLANDMy Lords, I do not think I need say anything with regard to this Bill, which is in the nature of a compromise between the views of the local authorities and the members of the Police Force. The Government offer no opposition to the measure at this stage.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.