§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason injury awards made to police officers in lieu of earnings remain payable after retirement age. [112556]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAn injury award is payable as a form of compensation where a police officer becomes permanently disabled for police duty as the result of an injury received in the execution of their duty.
The award compensates an officer for the reduction in their earning capacity. In the wider context, it is considered that earning capacity should be related to a person's main source of livelihood. Therefore, where a police officer has reached retirement age their injury pension will continue to be paid where their opportunity to obtain a larger pension has also been reduced by the injury.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the police personnel procedure regulations in respect of the provision to allow those suffering from long-term sickness to have their employment terminated. [112557]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThere is no provision within Police Regulations for the termination of employment solely on the ground of long-term sickness.
The Police Pensions Regulations provide for compulsory retirement on the ground of permanent disablement.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the applicability to current conditions of the police pension regulations; what plans he has to update these; and if he will make a statement. [112562]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI am currently considering what changes are required to the police pensions regulations, following the current major review of all aspects of police pension arrangements. I hope to publish specific proposals in spring this year.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people(a) in total and (b) from ethnic minorities (i) applied and (ii) were recruited to the police in each year since 1995. [113466]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe table sets out the information requested for 1995 to 1998. Figures for 1999 are not yet available.
The figure for the total of appointments on probation for 1996 differs from that mentioned in my reply to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 11 November 1999, Official Report, column 796W. This is because North Wales Police have since corrected their figure of "0" for 1996 to "49".
565W
Total police officer applications and recruitment in England and Wales from 1995 Ethnic minorities Total officers 1995 Police officer appointment on probation 217 5,585 Police officer applications 1,426 53,909 1996 Police officer appointment on probation 161 15,712 Police officer applications 1,613 42,774
Total police officer applications and recruitment in England and Wales from 1995 Ethnic minorities Total officers 1997 Police officer appointment on probation 169 5,859 Police officer applications 1,904 44,334 1998 Police officer appointment on probation 408 4,961 Police officer applications 2,030 36,095 15,712 = figure updated from 5,663 as a result of a change notified by North Wales Police (delete "0" and insert "49") Source:
Figures supplied by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary