HC Deb 12 June 1906 vol 158 cc821-2
MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that John Simmonds, of Henley-on-Thames, who retired from the postal service on January 6th last, five and a half months ago, after thirty-nine and a quarter years continual employment, and with the maximum number of good conduct stripes, has not yet been able to ascertain from the postal authorities to what pension he is entitled; that for three months after his retirement no payment whatever was made to him; that thon, after repeated applications, he received a sum of £10 on account; and that he has since been unable to obtain any further payment or any explanation of the delay; and whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to this man in being left so long without regular payment or acknowledgment of his claims, he will take steps to have the matter put right and to see that such delay does not occur again.

In putting the question the hon. Member complained that the word "inconvenience" had been substituted for "hardship." He asked whether Mr. Speaker considered that "hardship" was a disorderly expression.

*MR. SPEAKER

According to the information given to me, the Question was submitted to the hon. Member himself, and he fully agreed with the correction.

MR. MORRELL

I agreed under protest. May I ask whether it would not be better that Questions should be expressed in the Member's own language?

*MR. SPEAKER

If we were to admit all the expressions which are contained in Questions, I am afraid that a good many of them would be disorderly.

MR. MORRELL

Then I will put the question, and ask the Postmaster-General to read the word "hardship" into it.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I regret to find that there has been delay in obtaining the award of a pension in this case, pending the decision of a question which had been raised regarding the admission of the value of free quarters as a pensionable emolument. An advance was made as soon as an application for it was received, and I have directed that a further advance should be made at once, and that steps should be taken to avoid similar delay in future.