§ 37. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Retired Police Officers Association, Scotland, concerning the pensions of their members; and what measures he proposes to take to improve their conditions.
§ Mr. MaclayLike other Scottish Members, I have received a letter from this Association representing that there should be a regular adjustment of pensions of police officers to keep in step with increases of police pay, and, as an interim measure, that a bonus should be paid to older pensioners.
We all have sympathy with men who have given good service to the country, but the fundamental principle applying to all the public services is that pensions are directly related to length of service and pay on retirement and, once awarded, are not normally altered; and I regret I see no ground for singling out the police for more favourable treatment. Successive Governments have, of course, given assistance to public service pensioners, particularly the older ones, by means of increases awarded under the Pensions (Increase) Acts.