HC Deb 13 February 1996 vol 271 c511W
Mr. Spellar

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to protect the position of police officers who volunteer for military duty in Bosnia through their membership of the Territorial Army, with particular reference to pensions, pay increments, annual leave, injury pensions and lump sum payments and death gratuities. [142394]

Mr. Maclean

It is for chief constables to decide whether to allow officers leave of absence to volunteer for military duty in Bosnia.

Police officers who are members of Her Majesty's reserve forces and who are compulsorily called up for military service would be able to count such military service towards pension, pay increments and annual leave. They would also be eligible to have any shortfall in their military pay relative to their police pay made up and, provided they are members of the police pensions scheme, they would be covered by the "service men" provision— part I—of the police pension regulations.

Police officers who are members of the reserve forces and who volunteer for military duty need first to obtain the permission of their chief constable and, depending on the terms under which any leave of absence is approved, may be able to count the military service towards pension, pay increments and annual leave. Officers who are given approval to volunteer for military service, like those who might be compulsorily called up, are covered by the "service men" provisions of the police pensions regulations.