HC Deb 15 March 1961 vol 636 cc130-2W
Mr. Longden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will introduce the Police Pensions Regulations.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The Select Committee on Statutory Instruments raised a point of some importance on the draft Scottish Regulations. This calls for careful consideration, which is bound to take some time. Although the Select Committee had previously reported that they found nothing in the draft English Regulations to which the special attention of the House required to be drawn, the point they raised on the Scottish Regulations affected the English Regulations also; and in these circumstances it was clearly inappropriate to proceed with the consideration of either set of Regulations.

The point raised by the Select Committee appears to relate only to Part I of each of the two sets of Regulations. Parts II, III and IV of the draft Regulations relate to increases in certain widows' pensions and children's allowances; and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are anxious that, if possible, these increases should come into operation on 3rd April next so that they may take effect at the same time as the corresponding increases in National Insurance benefits.

In view of the urgency of the matter, and to allow time for the proper consideration of the question raised by the Select Committee on Part 1, my right hon. Friend and I are proposing to lay before Parliament new draft Regulations containing only the amendments contained in Parts 11, III and IV of the original drafts. I hope that resolutions approving these Regulations can be taken as soon as the Select Committee have had an opportunity of considering the revised drafts.