HC Deb 28 June 1909 vol 7 cc15-6
Sir GEORGE KEKEWICH

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when he proposes to proceed with the Superannuation Bill?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

It is hoped to take the second reading on Friday next.

Sir G. KEKEWICH

Is it proposed to press the Bill forward this Session with expedition, seeing that every day widows and orphans of civil servants are suffering from delay in proceeding with it?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I shall be very glad to get the Bill as soon as possible.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Will the Superannuation Bill be the first order on Friday?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I think it will be the second order. The Board of Trade Bill comes first.

Sir G. KEKEWICH

Will it be pressed that day?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

That is a question I obviously cannot answer. But the Prime Minister has given an undertaking it shall be taken on Friday if possible.

Sir GEORGE KEKEWICH

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why promoted clerks, minor staff officers, and abstractors in the Customs Service are allowed to count as pensionable one-half only of their unestablished service, while the Customs boatmen have been allowed to count all their unestablished service; and what were the special circumstances which affected the latter case?

The HON. MEMBER

further asked (1) whether, under section 3 of the Superannuation Act of 1887, persons who have served in a temporary capacity as qualified postmasters' assistants, and who have been paid out of moneys voted by Parliament, are, when they are subsequently appointed as established civil servants within the meaning of the Act, permitted to reckon, for the purposes of the Act, their previous service?

(2) Whether in a letter addressed by the Treasury to Lord Hartington, on 18th April, 1884, it was stated that it was the invariable practice of the Treasury to reckon toward superannuation temporary service which was followed without interruption by established service, and that the practice had been in force before the passing of the Superannuation Act of 1859, and had never been discontinued; and why, if the statement to Lord Hartington was correct, the practice of the Treasury has been now altered, and when the change took place?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

The letter of 18th April, 1884, was written with reference to a particular case, and was not a complete statement of Treasury practice, which has, moreover, since been affected by the passing of the Superannuation Act of 1887. That practice is to count only so much of temporary service as is similar in character to the established service following. The cases of the Customs' employés referred to have been dealt with in accordance with this principle. Postmasters' assistants are not in the direct employment of the State, but are engaged and paid by the postmasters out of lump sums placed at their disposal for the purpose of obtaining assistance. Such service is never reckoned for pension.