§ MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the Memorials sent to the Lords of the Treasury by attendants and messengers of the Science and Art Department at South Kensington, in which they petition to be admitted to the benefits of the superannuation, and of the allowances in sick- 914 ness, which all permanent Civil servants enjoy; and, whether their Petition will not be granted?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)The question was considered during my Predecessor's term of Office in September, 1885, and by my immediate Predecessor in March last. It was found that the attendants and messengers referred to are included in an official statement of the Science and Art Department of the
Classes of persons not on the permanent staff, and not having claims to superannuation, and liable to discharge at a moment's notice;and this statement is supported by an extract of a Minute of the Science and Art Department of the 17th of March, 1866, which says that as regards persons employed and paid by the hour, expressly including attendants and messengers—All payments are for the full value of the services performed, and that no officer has any future claim on the Department.I cannot go behind this statement by their own Department of the position with regard to superannuation of these attendants and messengers, and, therefore, cannot admit that they have any claim, to superannuation. The Rules as to allowances in sickness follow from the decision as to the Memorialists' claims to superannuation, and their position as Civil servants not on the permanent establishment.