MR. SPENCER BALFOURasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, If it is still intended to enforce the superannuation of those upper division clerks of the Customs Warehousing Department in the prime of life who do not wish to undertake service in the Outdoor Department, while retaining in other departments some thirty clerks who are upwards of sixty years of age?
§ MR. THOROLD ROGERSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether he will inform the House what are the immediate and prospective savings, if any, in the Estimates, from the impending changes in the Customs Department; and, whether they will not involve the superannuation of many public servants in the prime of life?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHIt is impossible, in the present state of affairs, to give a definite answer either to this Question or to the latter part of that of my hon. Friend the Member for Southwark. When we know how many of the warehousing clerks are willing to accept posts in the re-organized Department, and how many wish to retire, we shall be in a position to consider whether it will be necessary to compel any officers under 60 years of age to retire. I hope it will not be so necessary; and we shall endeavour to avoid this result by every means consistent with the interests of the public service. As regards the former part of the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Southwark, I have to state that the Estimates now before the House are framed on the 487 basis of the old establishments. The changes are expected ultimately to produce a considerable reduction of expense; but the amount of that reduction cannot yet be stated. Economy was not the first motive for making the change.