§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked if the right hon. Gentleman will state the approximate number of persons in the employ of his Department to whom Section 4 of the Superannuation Act of 1887 is applicable; what percentage of this number per annum it is estimated will die while in the service; and what, would be the average annual cost of granting to the dependents of such persons so dying a gratuity on the scale provided by the section of the Act referred to for persons retiring on a medical certificate of infirmity?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have no information which would enable me to answer the hon. Member's question with any approach to accuracy. But it may suffice if I inform him that during the five years ended on 31st December, 1911, 287 gratuities of the average value of £32 were awarded to male Post Office servants, and forty-three gratuities of the average value of £23 to females.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANOut of what total number of persons?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELPerhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of that question. The total number of the Post Office employés last year was 212,000 and this year it is 230,000.