HC Deb 05 April 1909 vol 3 cc721-3
Mr. YOUNGER

asked what is the amount of the salaries for March which, by reason of the recent alteration in the date of payment, will not be included in the expenditure of the financial year ending 31st March last?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

If I may assume that the hon. Member refers to the Inland Revenue Department, the answer is nil.

Mr. MOONEY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a number of Inland Revenue officers and supervisors were compulsorily retired on 1st April before they had completed their 40 years' service, which would entitle them to the maximum rate of superannuation, viz., two-thirds of their salaries; that some of these officers had, on 1st April, served 39 years and eight or nine months; and that a request by them that they should be allowed to remain in the service to complete the 40 years' service was refused; whether these compulsory retirements are in accord with the official statement that no official of either Department, Excise or Customs, would be detrimentally affected by the amalgamation of these two Departments; and whether, in view of the fact that the compulsory retirement of public servants against whose efficiency there is no complaint, within a few months of the period which would entitle them to the maximum rate of superannuation, means a serious loss to them, and but little difference to the State, he will reconsider the claims for superannuation of these public servants?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

Forty Inland Revenue officers and supervisors were retired on the 1st instant before they had completed 40 years' service. Only four of these officers had on that date served as much as 39 years and eight months, and none had served 39 years and nine months. In fixing the actual retirement dates the Boards of Inland Revenue and Customs have allowed extensions not exceeding three months beyond 1st April in the case of officers 61 and over on that date, or beyond their 61st birthday, in the case of officers reaching 61 after the 1st April, in all cases where such extension would enable an officer to count either another year's service or another increment for pension. I know of no official statement to the effect quoted in the question. If the hon. Member refers to the statement made by me on 10th June, 1908, on the Inland Revenue Vote, he will see by reference to "Hansard," Vol. 190, Cols. 318–19, that the undertaking which I gave is not correctly represented by the words of his question. I can, however, assure him that the Retirement Order is being administered in the spirit of the undertaking then given.

Mr. MOONEY

Then I understand that in cases where they have allowed three months to be added the time of the retired official is brought up from 39 years and eight months to 39 years and 11 months, and he is still kept out of the 40 years' limit.

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The answer to that is that it is impossible to extend beyond the three months' period of grace which is allowed.

Mr. MOONEY

May I ask whether this includes the saving of £4 10s. per head on these retired officials?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I could not say.

Mr. MOONEY

asked, in view of the fact that the Order in Council of 15th August, 1890, giving power to the head of a department to call upon any officer to retire at 60 years of age only applies to Civil servants having a scale of salary in excess of that of the Second Division, and that officers of Inland Revenue and supervisors recently compulsorily retired were not in receipt of salaries on a higher or even as high a scale as the Second Division, under what authority these officials have been compulsorily retired within a few months of the completion of the period entitling them to full pensions?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The power to retire officers, either at the age of 60 or any other age, does not depend upon Order in Council, but has always been possessed by the head of a Department.

Mr. MOONEY

The hon. Gentleman has not answered my question. I asked under what authority?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I have answered that by saying it is within the power possessed by the head of a Department.

Mr. MOONEY

By what authority? The head of a Department must have some power to act under, statute or otherwise. I am asking by what power the head of a Department exercises that function?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The head of a Department can retire any official at any age he likes.