§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not take action to review the pay of police officers in general, and those earning above £42 per week in particular, in view of the depreciation in their take home pay of social security payment increases since their last wage award.
§ Mr. SharplesBecause the higher rates of national insurance contribution, when they are payable, will be of general application and because, anyway, the review of police pay is a matter for the Police Council in the first instance.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that the new rates of pay for police were effective from 1st September, 1970, it took until the end of March for the Police Council agreement to dispense with age points in the pay scales; and whether he will ensure that such delays do not occur in the future.
§ Mr. SharplesDiscussions in the Police Council were protracted, not because of the principle of dispensing with age-pointing, but because on the main issues of the claim a wide gap between the two sides had to be bridged.