§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are in receipt of the police widows' preserved rate pension in each county of the United Kingdom; what is the average age of the recipients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the last increase in benefits was paid to recipients of the police widows' preserved rate pension; what was the value of the increase; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the present weekly payment to recipients of the police widows preserved rate pension; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoggThe payments vary according to the late husband's rank as follows:
Rank Rate per week (£) Below Inspector 14.04 Inspector 18.29 Above Inspector 21.97 In common with all state and public service pensions the rates were last increased by 1.1 per cent. from 28 July 1986. The next increase is due in April.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional revenue was gained by the police widows' preserved rate pension fund in each of the years since 1982 when the contribution from male police officers was increased from 7 per cent. to 11 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere is no such fund either for the preserved rate widows or for the police service generally. The net costs of the police pension scheme—estimated in 1985–86 at £186 million for England and Wales—are met from general rate fund revenue.