asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the widow of Sergeant W. F. Curie is only receiving a pension of approximately 11s. 6½d. per week, when her husband, who died in February, 1947, served for 25 years in the Metropolitan police, for 20 years of which he was a sergeant, retiring with an exemplary character in December, 1931; and the amount of contributions paid towards a pension fund by Sergeant Curie during his service.

The pension of £30 a year (11s. 6d. a week) payable under the Police Pensions Act, 1921, to the widow of a police sergeant is liable to an increase of not more than 40 per cent. under Pensions (Increase) Acts, 1944 and 1947, if the widow satisfies the requirements of these Acts; and Mrs. Curie has been so informed. The late Sergeant Curie paid a total of £159 11s. 11d. as rateable deductions under the Police Pensions Act during his 25 years' service; he drew a total of £2,829 0s. 8d. in pension during the 15 years from his retirement to the time of his death.