PENSIONS FUNDS (CARDIFF) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL. (Hansard, 13 August 1919)

THE EARL OF JERSEY

My Lords, the details of this Bill are a little complicated, but there are no controversial points; no petitions against the. Bill were, or were likely to be presented; and is passage through the House of Commons was merely a formal matter. Briefly, the circumstances are these. Sections 32 and 33 of the Towns Police Clauses Act, 1847, give power to the local authority to purchase or provide for fire engines, etc., and make provision for the payment of the firemen. Under Section 2, subsection (1), of the Police Act, 1893, the council of a borough may by resolution delegate the above powers to the Watch Committee, who are thereupon empowered to employ police constables wholly or partially as firemen. Under Section 8, subsection (2), of the same Act it is provided that where any local Act or Order contains provisions as to a fire brigade, the Secretary of State may frame and submit to Parliament a Provisional Order repealing or modifying such provisions so as to bring them into harmony with the provisions of the 1893 Act, and he may by such Order unite any existing fire brigade pension fund with the police pension fund, and may make any other adjustments which may appear to him to be necessary in order to give effect to the 1893 Act. Part 13 of the Cardiff Corporation Act, 1894, contains provisions for the establishment of a permanent fire brigade pension fund. The necessary resolution having been passed by the Council of the 834 City of Cardiff in the terms of Section 2 of the Police Act, 1893, a Provisional Order has been made by the Secretary of State, under Section 8 of that Act, uniting the fire brigade pension fund with the police pension fund and making certain necessary and consequential adjustments. This Provisional Order is set out in the schedule to the Bill. This Bill was brought from another place some time ago, but for various reasons has been delayed. Although it is, perhaps, not a matter of great public importance, it is a matter of considerable importance to the City of Cardiff; and in moving the Second Reading I express the hope that your Lordships will see your way to pass the Bill through its remaining stages at an early date.