§ 28. Major Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if certain clerks of the Board who have attained the age of sixty have been asked to retire, or have voluntarily retired and have accepted their pensions, while juniors have been advanced to their posts on full salary; if such has been done in the interest of economy or of efficiency, or both; if he can give any reason why the usual Civil Service rule for age has not been followed, or why the new plan has not been given universal application at the Board; and if the retirement volun- 254 tarily or otherwise of clerks under the usual age to pension is uneconomical and suggests the possibilities of favouritism?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)Any established Civil servant who has reached the age of sixty is entitled to retire on a pension, and this right has been exercised by certain officers of the Board in response to the President's desire to stimulate the flow of promotion in the Office. In these circumstances no questions arise of the character suggested in my hon. Friend's question, and there has been no departure from the usual practice. Five established officers who have passed the age of sixty will remain in the service of the Board, but they occupy technical posts in which they could not be replaced at present- without serious detriment to the work on which they are engaged, and in their cases, therefore, the President is satisfied that it would not be in the public interest that they should exercise their right to retire at present.
§ Sir B. FALLEMay I ask if these gentlemen were retired at sixty in the interests of economy?
§ Sir B. FALLEIs it a fact that those particular gentlemen were retired at their own request, or is it that they have been practically pushed out?
§ 33. Major W. MURRAYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what was the total number of persons employed at Gretna Factory immediately prior to the declaration of the Armistice; what is the total number employed there now; and whether he will state the approximate number of ex-Service men and of women now employed at Gretna factory?
§ The DEPUTY-MINISTER of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)The total number of persons employed at His Majesty's factory, Gretna, immediately before the signature of the Armistice was 11,477. The number employed there on 15th October was 1,111 men and 208 women. Three hundred and forty-four of the men were ex-Service men.
§ 34. Major MURRAYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Report of the Gretna Factory Committee can now be made public?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe whole question of the retention of Gretna and certain other national factories to form a nucleus of munitions manufacturing capacity is being considered afresh in the light of recent developments. Meanwhile no decision can be come to as to the publication of the Departmental Report referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's question.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCan the hon. Gentleman say why this Report should not be published for the guidance of the House?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have not said the Report would not be published, but it was a Departmental Report for the information of the Ministry, and until a decision is taken upon it I think it is undesirable to publish it.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWould it not be wiser to publish the Report and allow the House to give guidance to the Ministry?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI think it might very well prejudice the decision which will have to be taken. It covers a number of factories.