House of Commons
Monday 22 February 2016
The House met at half-past Two o’clock
Oral Answers to Questions
HOME DEPARTMENT
The Secretary of State was asked—
Topical Questions
T4. [903687] James Heappey (Wells) (Con): I have met a number of police officers in my constituency who have witnessed extreme trauma while on duty and have been diagnosed as suffering from mental illness or
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injury as a result. Yet the arrangements for their sick pay and their medical discharge and pension seem to be strikingly different from that of those who have suffered physical injury in the course of their duties. Does my right hon. Friend agree that, given the Government’s pursuit of parity of esteem between mental illness and physical illness, police forces should ensure that all injuries or illnesses attributable to service are supported in the same way?
Mrs May: I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Police officers are entitled to exactly the same sick leave and pay arrangements whether they suffer a mental or physical illness. Any requests for ill-health retirement are, similarly, subject to exactly the same test. It is the responsibility of chief constables to provide for that in their local policies. I am pleased to say that in October 2014, the Government allocated £8 million to the blue light programme to support the mental and physical wellbeing of emergency services personnel.