HC Deb 22 March 1926 vol 193 cc897-8W
Mr. HAYES

asked the Home Secretary the number of widows of Metropolitan police officers and pensioners who are in receipt of the widows' pension, distinguishing between those whose husbands completed from five to 10 years', 10 to 15 years', 15 to 20 years', 20 to 25 years' service, and upwards, respectively; and the number of widows in receipt of pension under 30 years, between 30 and 35, between 35 and 40, between 40 and 45, between 45 and 50, and 51 years of age and upwards, respectively?

Sir W. JOYNSON - HICKS

The numbers are as follow:

Years' service of late husband. Number of widows receiving pensions.
Under 5 8
5 and under 10 74
10 and under 15 97
15 and under 20 114
20 and under 25 122
25 and upwards 274
689
Age of widow.
Under 30 5
30 and under 35 35
35 and under 40 86
40 and under 45 124
45 and under 51 138
51 and upwards 301
689

Mr. HAYES

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the lack of any statutory provision for many of the widows of pre-September, 1918, pensioners and their known urgent need, he will cause inquiries to be made through the various police forces of the country with the view to ascertaining as near as possible the number of married police pensioners, distinguishing between those who married before retiring from the police and those who married afterwards, and the number, as near as can be ascertained, of widows of pre-September, 1918, police pensioners?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The suggested inquiries would involve very considerable labour which, in all the circumstances, I should not feel justified in asking the police authorities to undertake.

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