§ 44. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the general consensus of opinion that statutory provision should be made for superannuation allowances for the various-grades of public officers in the country, and in view of the fact that special statutory provisions have already been made for school teachers and for officers of the Civil Service and the police in England, Scotland, and Wales, and for Poor Law officers and asylums officers, and in view of the fact that a number of local government authorities, recognising the advantage, both from the public point of view and as a matter of justice to their officers, of furnishing the latter with superannuation provisions, have already obtained special Acts for this purpose, but that there are still a very large number of local' government officers and servants who are still entirely without superannuation of any kind, he will take an early opportunity of introducing a Bill for providing superannuation allowances to the officers and servants of local authorities?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)My right hon. Friend has asked me to-reply to this question. The subject is a large one, involving grave financial considerations, and I cannot commit myself to any promise of legislation upon it.