§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if the labourers engaged on the Ordnance Survey in England had been classed under the new scheme issued by the Department; if so, why was it that the labourers of the Ordnance Survey in Ireland had not been included under the scheme; whether the labourers on the English survey had had their rate of pay 731 increased; and, if so, would the same concession be given to the labourers on the Irish survey?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Edward Strachey)Neither the pay nor the status of the labourers employed on the Ordnance Survey either in Great Britain or Ireland has been in any way affected by the issue of the scheme of classification to which the hon. Member refers.
§ Mr. NANNETTIasked if the hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the fact that labourers engaged on the Ordnance Survey in Ireland were compelled to retire when they reach the age of 60 years; whether these men received any pension; whether the age limit could be increased to 65; and, if not, could a contributory scheme be set up for labourers who were now compulsorily retired and thrown out on an overcrowded labour market where it was impossible for them to find any employment?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYThe age for retirement of labourers on the Ordnance Survey whether employed in Great Britain or Ireland, is 60. They receive no pension, but a gratuity of £1, or one week's pay, whichever is the greater, for each year of service is paid if a labourer has been employed for fifteen years. The Board are not prepared to extend the age limit, but they will be glad to consider the suggestion made in the last part of the question.