§ Sir H. MEUXasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to 1127W the increased cost of living, the pensions of men who have served in the Metropolitan police force are inadequate for providing them with the means of supporting their wives and families; whether he is aware that the majority of these men are too old to work to supplement their pensions; whether he is aware that the nature of their employment, being exposed to all weathers, and the strain upon them in the proper discharge of their duties has resulted in many of them being prematurely aged; whether he is aware that these men's pensions are largely paid from funds contributed by themselves while serving in the police force; and whether a grant can be made to them either as a war bonus or augmentation to their pensions?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am aware that the increased cost of living presses hardly upon all persons with small incomes; but I do not think any special case can be made for the Metropolitan police pensioners. They receive their pensions at a comparatively early age—at a much earlier age, indeed, than in any branch of the Civil Service—they are generally well able to supplement their income by other work, and their services are much sought for. The contributions towards superannuation which the men themselves make are very small, not amounting in the total to the value of one year's pension, while they draw their pensions on an average for nineteen years. It would not be possible to justify a grant such as is suggested to one particular body of men.