§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the proposed new pension scheme for the foremen employed in Woolwich Arsenal provides that those who are qualified to receive such pension must not be connected with any trade society; and, seeing that a man who has served thirty years in the Arsenal has paid £120 if he belonged to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, and that a man who has served forty years has paid £156. by which he has secured certain benefits, will he take care that the pension scheme shall not deprive a man coming under it of any benefits which he has secured by belonging to this or kindred societies.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The reply to the first part of the Question, is in the affirmative. The special condition referred to was suggested by the foremen themselves in 1898. Steps will be taken to safeguard, as far as possible, the interests of the foremen who at present belong to trade societies, but it has to be borne in mind that acceptance of the new pension scheme is purely voluntary on the part of the men.