§ SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERY (York shire, W.R., Shipley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can now see his way to state what arrangements have been made to safeguard the interests of the foremen in Woolwich Arsenal who at present belong to trade societies, and who will come under the new pension scheme, seeing that these foremen have in some instances accumulated as much as £benefit during a membership of forty years.
§ * MR. BRODRICKThe scale of pension offered is far more liberal than that given by the trade society to which the great majority of those concerned belong; the minimum which can be awarded under the scheme being equal to the superannuation benefit given by the society after forty year's membership. No foreman has been asked to accept the scheme if he did not find it to his own interest to do so. I must not be understood to confirm my hon. Friend's figures.
§ SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERYWas not the noble Lord the Member for Woolwich informed, informed, reply to a Question—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! It is irregular to thus refer to the answer to a previous Question.
§ SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERYI will endeavour to put the Question in another way. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider on behalf of his Department whether it is not possible to avoid compelling these men to lose the benefits which they have accumulated for forty years?
§ * MR. BRODRICKMy hon. friend proposes that they shall have both pensions?
§ SIR FORTESCUE FLANNERYYes, they have paid for them both.
§ * MR. BRODRICKParliament would hardly be prepared to give benefits for which no sort of arrangement was made when they came in, if the men are at the same time to claim it from another quarter.