Ordnance Survey Department (Ireland). (Hansard, 18 April 1910)

§ Mr. NANNETTI
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any scheme has yet been considered whereby pensions may be granted to labourers employed by the Ordnance Survey who are compulsorily retired at the age of sixty; whether he is aware that hardship is inflicted on these men by being thrown on the labour market in their old age; and whether a petition has been received by his Department asking that these men should be put in a similar position for pensions as those of other employés of the Ordnance Survey?

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)
A petition on this subject has recently been considered. It was expressly stated when the pension scheme for the Civil asistants was originally sanctioned that it was not intended to include labourers, and it has been decided that no modification of the scheme in this respect can now be made.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
asked how many soldiers of the Royal Engineers have been transferred to the Irish Survey during the past two years; how many civilians have been displaced in the same period by these soldiers; and whether the discharge of these permanent civilians is contrary to the usage of the Civil Service?

§ Sir EDWARD STRACHEY
On 1st April, 1908, 790 civilians and 166 Royal Engineers were employed on the Ordnance Survey in Ireland. The corresponding figures this year are 675 civilians and 162 Royal Engineers. As my hon. Friend is aware, the reduction of the numbers employed is due to the approaching completion of the re-Survey of Ireland on the 25-inch scale. The course which has necessarily been adopted is not in any way opposed to Civil Service usage.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
How many civilians have been displaced in the same period by these soldiers?

§ Sir EDWARD STRACHEY
The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
It is part of the question on the Paper.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is intended to discharge a number of civilians employed in the Ordnance Survey in Ireland; whether several men have already been marked out for discharge; whether this is only the beginning of further discharges in the various districts of that country; whether it is intended to fill their places by inexperienced Royal Engineers; whether he is aware of the hardship and distress it will inflict on these civilians of long standing in the Department if they are thrown out on an overcrowded labour market; and whether he will take steps to protect old and established servants on the permanent staff in their employment?

§ Sir EDWARD STRACHEY
It is, I am afraid, inevitable that some reduction of the Ordnance Survey staff should be made in the near future owing to the completion of the 25-inch Survey of Ireland and the consequent decrease in the amount of work to be done. There is, of course, no intention of filling up the vacancies.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
Will the Department consider the advisability of retaining the civilians and displacing the military men, who have other employment to go to, so as not to send the civilians out into the labour market?

§ Sir E. STRACHEY
Of course, that question is always before the Board.

§ Mr. NANNETTI
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is proposed to appoint a Committee to inquire into the grievances of the staff of the Ordnance Survey; and, if so, considering that over 40 per cent, of the staff of the Ordnance Survey is employed in Ireland, will he name a member representing one of the constituencies in Ireland to act on the Committee?

§ Sir E. STRACHEY
The Board think the appointment of such a Committee might be of service, and they have the matter under consideration. The President of the Board will bear the suggestion of the hon. Member in mind.