Mr. T. F. RICHARDSasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a Mr. Heas, of Wolverhampton, ex-Inland Revenue officer, who has had to retire owing to ill-health, has been awarded a pension for 34 years' service only, whereas he claims for 37 years' service, including three years' service in the Postal Department; whether he is aware that the breakdown in health was due to strain put upon the Revenue Officers by working excessively long hours in obtaining information and making out the claims for old age pensions, for which these men only received remuneration amounting to 4½, d. per hour, although their ordinary wages amounted to 1s. 6d. per hour; whether, considering the state of this man's health, brought about by his attention to duty, the Treasury can give the man the right understood to exist, viz., to grant a pension for unbroken civil service of the applicant; and whether he can take any other action in this matter?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMr. Heas was not qualified for pension in respect of his Post Office service. There is nothing in his superannuation papers to suggest that his breakdown was due to work connected with old age pensions, and I see no sufficient reason to reconsider the award which has been made in his case. I must add that the head of his Department was not able to certify without qualification that his service had been satisfactory.