§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that special constables, lay visitors and other volunteers providing assistance to the police are properly insured against personal accident risks; and if he will make a statement. [4648]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 18 November 19961The Government recognise the valuable contribution of volunteers who assist the police and agree that police authorities should have powers to enable them to provide personal accident insurance for voluntary assistance. We are considering changes to police regulations to improve the provision of compensation for injury to special constables. The Government are looking to support primary legislation on police authorities and the power to hold personal accident insurance for other voluntary assistants in the current Session.