Mr. Vaneasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of the disadvantage suffered under the new national health scheme, by policemen who had been contributors to the old former scheme when in previous civil employment or when serving in His Majesty's Forces, but whose later contributions were not fully paid up, compared with policemen who had never contributed to the former scheme; and whether he will arrange for all recruits to the Police Force to rank as new entrants to the new scheme.
Mr. GriffithsIt is not the case that the position of new recruits to the Police Force in relation to National Insurance benefits would as a whole be improved if they were treated as new entrants. In some respects they would be worse off. The conditions of their employment give rise, however, to certain complications on which I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.