§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of of State for Scotland when he proposes to amend the Police Pensions Regulations 1962, with a view to establishing higher basic pension rates for police widows.
§ Mr. NobleRegulations have just been made applying to police widows and dependants from 1st January last and the benefits of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1962; and further amending regulations have been laid before the House, providing for increases in certain discretionary awards to police widows to keep in step with the new national insurance148W rates. Neither my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, nor I have any other proposals for increasing police widows' pension rates to put to the House at present, but we shall continue to consider any advice which may be given to us by the Police Council for Great Britain, who have the police pensions code constantly under review.
§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police authorities exercise their discretionary power to increase the pension payable to police widows who are ineligible for benefits under the National Indurance Acts; and how many do not do so.
§ Mr. NobleI have no information to suggest that any Scottish police authority is failing to exercise this discretionary power.