§ SIR G. KEKEWICH (Exeter)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the class of aged writers who are to be discharged 311 in February can be differentiated by the facts that they would have been promoted to the pensionable class of abstractors had they not been debarred by age, and that they average seventy-four years of age and thirty-four of service; and whether, seeing that there are not any other old servants of the State in the same position, he will consider whether the gratuities of these writers can be increased.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe case of these copyists does not appear to be distinguishable from that of the other copyists who have already retired with gratuities on the approved scale. Nor is it really distinguishable from that of great numbers of persons in the employ of the State who are on a temporary footing and not entitled to pension but only to gratuity under the Superannuation Act of 1887. My hon. friend regrets that he is therefore unable to accede to their request for an increased gratuity.