§ LORD BALCARRESI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received an application from the Science and Art Department for to gratuity to the eight occasional examiners for Art whose services were dispensed 271 with owing to departmental changes; and whether, in view of the fact that these officials have served from seven to 40 years without prospect of pensions, he will consider their application with sympathy?
§ MR. HANBURYI have examined the records of service of these officers. The Superannuation Act which governs their case does not allow the award of a gratuity to any person who has not served for at least seven years in an employment to which he was required to devote his whole time. I regret to say that none of these officers service fulfils this condition, and there is therefore no power to award them any gratuity on the termination of their employment.