§ 2.52 p.m.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM) rose to move, That the Draft Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1969, laid before the House on April 23 last, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, these draft Regulations amend the Police Pensions Regulations 1966. They are in three Parts and I should like briefly to explain the changes. Part I provides for 306 the Regulations to come into operation on June 1, 1969, and for the dates from which Parts II and III take effect. Part II is consequential on the Pensions (Increase) Act 1969 and serves to increase the pensions of police widows and the allowances payable to children of deceased police officers. I am sure that your Lordships will agree that these amendments are all very desirable.
§ Part III of the draft Regulations contains two separate amendments. The first arises out of a reorganisation of the higher ranks in the Metropolitan Police, one consequence of which is the introduction of the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner. The pension conditions appropriate to this new rank are to be the same as those for the existing rank of Commander.
§ The second amendment, contained in the draft Regulation 14, relates to the position of those children of deceased policemen who do not receive National Insurance benefits because their fathers were unable to complete the necessary contributions to the Scheme. Since July 5, 1948 (the date on which the National Insurance scheme came into operation), the Police Pensions Regulations have given police authorities discretion to increase the police allowances of these children up to amounts which are related to the National Insurance benefits for which they do not qualify. When the amounts of these National Insurance benefits are changed it is the practice to make corresponding changes in the amounts which can be paid by police authorities. As your Lordships will be aware, from October 8 last National Insurance benefits for children became payable at different rates, in accordance with the Family Allowances and National Insurance Act 1968. The amendment in draft Regulation 14 makes certain related adjustments as appropriate in the amounts payable under the police pensions scheme, but no adjustments are made which would reduce the amounts of payments already being made for children.
§ My Lords, all these changes have been agreed by the Police Council for Great Britain. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 1969, laid before the House on April 23 last, be approved.—(Lord Stonham.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.