§ MR. FELLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if the practice of giving a cash bonus to the workmen discharged after long years of service from the Arsenal at Woolwich has been found to work satisfactorily; and, if not, whether he will organise a contributory pension fund among the workmen at the Arsenal to provide a subsistence for the workmen discharged during the interval which must occur between the time of their discharge and the time when they will be entitled to old-age pensions.
§ MR. HALDANEIt appears that on the whole the cash bonus system has worked fairly satisfactory, but there is no doubt that there is a strong feeling among the workmen in favour of a contributory pension fund. The schemes that have hitherto been put forward on their behalf do not provide sufficiently large contributions to prevent the fund from becoming insolvent after a few years, but I shall always be willing to consider any scheme put forward which is actuarially sound.
§ MR. HALDANEsaid he would be quite ready to assist if the men wore prepared to contribute.