§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of persons who retired from the postal service during the latest convenient year and the number who were recruited in the same time.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterDuring 1963, the last full year for which figures are available, 151W 2,581 rank and file staff retired from the postal service on age or health grounds. Figures are not readily available for the higher grades—nor for recruitment because it is carried out locally. However, the total number of full-time postal staff decreased by about 350 during 1963, arid increased by about 500 during the first three-quarters of 1964. These latter figures comprise the net effect of recruitment and wastage from all causes, including retirement.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Postmaster-General what terms are offered to employees retiring from the postal service to continue in employment after the normal retiring age; and how many employees so continued in the latest convenient year.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterOn reaching normal minimum retiring age of 60, officers of the postal service who are fit and efficient and wish to remain in the service are generally given the option of continuing as they are or of becoming "disestablished." To avoid promotion stagnation, some people on supervising grades can only stay on in a lower grade. If disestablished, they can take immediately both their "lump sum" superannuation payment and, if necessary, enough of their pension to make up their pay to what it was before disestablishment. At present, there are some 4,500 people in the basic postal grades and about 100 of their supervisors who are 60 or over.