§ MR. HUDSON (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to a circular letter issued by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company (Ireland) on 16th October last, informing the servants on the wages staff of the company that, owing to the provisions of old-age pensions to be made from the National Exchequer, the directors give notice to terminate their pensions scheme from 1st January, 1909; whether he can say if such pensions have been part earnings for service to the company and are, in fact, deferred pay; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have not received a copy of the circular to which the hon. Member refers, but I am inviting the Railway Company's observations on the statements contained in the Question, and will inform the hon. Member of the nature of their reply.