§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the date when pensions were first introduced for members of local government services, police and fire services; and what provision was made for those who had served 10 years in each of these services before the introduction of the pension schemes.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettThe pension schemes for local government, police and fire service employees have evolved from legislation enacted at various times since the last century. I have no information about how the relevant authorities exercised powers before the turn of the century when they were generally discretionary and non-contributory. Benefits under the contributory schemes introduced from the beginning of this century have depended on employees becoming contributors and in no case has service rendered before the introduction of the scheme been pensionable unless this condition was met.