§ Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Home Secretary if he is aware that hardship is caused to pre-War police pensioners by the imposition of an age limit of 60 years in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920; and whether the Government intend to take measures to remove that limitation, seeing that it applies only to police pensioners and the fighting services and that policemen are not allowed to serve after reaching 55 years of age except under special circumstances?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe requirement that constables and sergeants should retire on reaching the age of 55 except in special cases did not apply to men who left the service before 28th August, 1921. The provision in the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, that a man shall not be eligible for an increase of pension until he attains the age of 60 applies to all pensioners and not merely to pensioners from the police and from the fighting services, and I am not aware of any reason for removing this limitation in the case of police pensioners.
Sir J. DAVIDSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government is prepared to reconsider the case of pre-War pensioners?
§ Mr. BALDWINI regret that I should not feel justified in introducing new legis740W lation on this subject, which would have the effect of imposing on the general taxpayer any addition to the already heavy charge involved in the payment of increased pensions under the terms of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920.