§ MR. FIELDTo ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the approximate number of civil servants with pensionable service who have died since the promise of early action in connection With deferred pay was made by the Treasury in February last, and whose widows and orphans have consequently been deprived of sums which are admittedly their due; whether, in view of the constantly increasing number of widows and orphans of civil servants who are thus deprived of an admitted right, he will inquire whether the introduction of legislation on the subject has already been unduly delayed; and whether the matter can be expedited so as to admit of an immediate remedy for the existing state of affairs.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have no statistics of the number of deaths of civil servants with pensionable service since February last, nor can I say how many of them, if the proposed new scheme had been in operation, would have elected to sacrifice a part of the benefits secured them by the existing Superannuation Acts in order to secure the contemplated life assurance. There is, of course, no question of depriving the widows and orphans of such civil servants of anything due to them. The preparation of a Bill is being proceeded with as rapidly as possible, and it will, as I have already promised, be introduced next session. Regard being had to the complexity of the subject, I do not think there has been any unreasonable delay.