§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Home Secretary whether the county borough of Bootle watch committee has reduced the increase of pensions granted under The Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, by 50 per cent.; on what grounds this has been done; whether all increases given by the watch committee of Bootle have been so reduced or whether only police pensioners have suffered reductions; and whether there is a general reduction taking place throughout the country in the pensions of those who received an increase under the said Act?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI understand that the Bootle Town Council have reduced by 50 per cent, all the increases of pension which they have granted under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920 (except in the case of one widow), and that the reduction has not been confined to police pensioners. The matter is one within their discretion, and I have no jurisdiction. No reduction is being made in the increases granted to Metropolitan Police pensioners, and I have no information to show that the increases are being reduced by county and borough police authorities generally.