§ 54. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will appoint a committee, on the pattern of the Guillebaud Committee, to advise whether pensions and superannuation, in respect of individuals for whom Her Majesty's Government have responsibility, are fair in relation to salaries and wages of today.
Mr. AmoryNo, Sir, for the cogent reasons advanced by my right hon. and learned Friend the present Solicitor-General during the proceedings on the Pensions (Increase) Bill on 26th June last year.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my right hon. Friend explain why it is that we are always able to examine the position of people in work but never able to examine the position of people who have retired? Can he say whether in the examination of the Guillebaud Committee's recommendations about railway wages, the position of railway superan-nuitants will be studied, since it was impossible to apply the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1959, to them, which was rather bad luck on decent railwaymen who had retired?
Mr. AmoryIn general, the point is that the Pensions (Increase) Act applied to the Government's own retired employees for whom the Government had a direct responsibility. In that case, responsibility must rest on the Government and the Government are in a position to obtain the facts. If my hon. Friend requires information about railway annuitants, perhaps she will put down a Question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.
§ Dame Irene WardI have.