§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the discretion given to the Scottish police authorities by the Police Pensions Act in relation to the pensions under the National Insurance Scheme to which Scottish widows of policemen are entitled operates severely; and if he will take steps to ensure that the discretion is either abolished or operated less harshly in the case of old age pensioners.
§ Mr. RossNo. A police authority's discretion is limited to granting an addition to a police widow's pension in certain cases where she is not receiving a National Insurance pension. When the National Insurance pension is paid, the addition to the police widow's pension must be withdrawn and the police authority has no power to continue paying it.