§ MR. C. J. DARLING (Deptford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether J. R. Fowell, a cooper employed in the Deptford Victualling Yard, is now (after 36 years' service) about to be retired on a pension calculated on a rate of 26s. a week for 26 years' service: and, whether he is entitled to have his pension calculated at the rate of 30s. a week?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe man in question has been granted a pension of £29 7s. 5d., calculated on his earnings of 26s. a week. He is not entitled to have his pension calculated on 30s. a week.
§ MR. DARLINGI should like to ask whether these men have not been led to believe that their pensions would be calculated at the higher rate?
§ MR. ROBERTSONNo, Sir. The rule made by the Treasury applied only to men employed in piece work. This man never was employed on piece work.