§ MR. W. WHITELAW (Perth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add a clause to the Prison (Officers' Superannuation) Bill, dealing with the cases of certain Scotch officers which have been brought to his notice?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo; the cases are in no sense analogous. The object of the Bill is to place officers who did not retire from the Service when the Prison Act, 1877, came into operation in no worse a position as regards pension than if they had so retired. The Scotch officers referred to would, as I am informed, have had no such right to pension as they now claim if the Act of 1877 had not passed. They are, therefore, asking for the creation of a new right, not for the preservation of an existing right. But the matter is one not for the Home Office, but for the Scotch Department.
§ MR. W. WHITELAWWill the Secretary for Scotland introduce a Bill dealing with the Scotch cases?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANIf the hon. Member will give me the facts of any individual cases I will consider them.
§ MR. W. WHITELAWI beg to give notice I shall object to any further progress being made with the Superannuation Bill until I have obtained a satisfactory answer from the Scotch Office.