§ Lieutenant-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that constables of the Metropolitan Police Force, who served over thirty years and were pensioned before 1st September, 1918, receive a lower rate of pension than those who retired after that date, who have only served twenty-six years; and whether he will take steps to have this anomaly rectified by an amending Bill to the Police (Pensions) Act, 1918?
§ Mr. SHORTTI regret that it is impossible, as regards any increase of existing pensions, to distinguish police pensions from Civil Service and other pensions, and that I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a widow of a police constable who died after 1st September, 1918, is entitled to a pension, whereas widows now living of men who served thirty to forty years are receiving nothing, he will take the necessary steps to amend the Police (Pensions) Act, 1918, so as to treat all widows of the police in the same manner?
§ Mr. SHORTTA proposal to this effect was discussed and negatived when the Police Bill was under discussion in this House last November. It would involve a very heavy charge on public funds, and I do not see my way to proposing fresh legislation on the subject.