§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-gratia payments were made in each of the last three years to date to special constables or their dependents for being killed or injured on duty; which police authorities recommended ex-gratia payments he made; and what payment was made in each case.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 28 November 1994]:This information is not readily available and comprehensive figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost. As a policy, all reasonable recommendations are approved. The records available show that three payments were approved in the last year. The largest was for £2,439 to a special constable in Hampshire.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his officials have made in amending current regulations to enable police authorities to provide non-contributory insurance cover for special constables who are injured or killed in the course of their duties; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 28 November 1994]: Adequate arrangements exist under regulations to cover any special constable killed or permanently disabled in the course of his or her duties. As far as injury or illness are concerned, the majority of specials are adequately provided for under the regulations and police authorities are free to recommend an ex-gratia payment in any case in which they consider the regulatory cover to be inadequate. But I have asked officials to review the current regulations to identify ways in which they might 564W sensibly be improved. These may include the provision of personal accident insurance cover.