§ Mr. MOONEYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether police pensioners employed in Ireland as watchers in the Customs Department are not called upon to retire until the age of sixty-five, whereas civilians employed by the Department of Agriculture as ship inspectors to do similar work are, by Treasury regulation, compelled to retire at the age of sixty, although physically quite competent to carry out their duties; if he can state the reason why the Treasury makes this distinction between police pensioners and civilians; and whether he will consider the possibility of giving a discretionary power to the Board of Agriculture, Ireland, to retain such inspectors as are efficient at least as long as police pensioners and so prevent this discrimination in favour of persons who have other means of support than their salaries?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am informed that considerable physical activity is required to perform the work of a ship inspector, 13 and inasmuch as retirement at the age of sixty is in accordance with the recommendation of the Irish Agriculture Department I am not prepared to suggest alteration in the regulation.
§ Mr. MOONEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider a police pensioner at sixty-five more active than a civilian at sixty?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEOh, it is altogether different work.