§ SIR F. DIXON-HARTLAND) (Middlesex, OxbridgeI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, as so many Civil Service writers have been made abstractors without competition, those now remaining on the Register under the prescribed age (60) may receive the same treatment; and whether the whole, actual previous service of abstractors in any capacity above that of a boy writer may be allowed to count towards retiring allowance, and further consideration in the way of increased initial remuneration be shown to "older" writers, who are placed at a disadvantage in not being able to earn the same amount of retiring allowance?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamIf the head of a Department cannot recommend a copyist for appointment as abstractor, on the ground of the merits of his previous service, it is not possible for the Treasury, in the interests of the Public Service, to require examination to be dispensed with. The Rule by which half previous service counts for pension already recognises length of service, and is a fair and liberal arrangement, and it is not possible to re-open it. On the question of initial salary, I can add nothing to my answer of the 26th of April last to the hon. Member for the City of London (Mr. Alban Gibbs).