§ 82. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the number of officials at present serving in the Customs and Excise who reached the age of 62 and upwards on the 1st June 1921, and the number of surveyor and officer grades, respectively, that have attained the age of 61 on the same date: and when it is proposed to revert to pre-War conditions of superannuation in the Customs and Excise Departments?
Mr. YOUNGThe number of officials at present serving in the Customs and Excise Department as a whole, who reached the age of 62 and upwards on the 1st June, 1921, is 264, of whom 165 are retiring shortly. The numbers of surveyors and officers who reached the age of 61 and upwards on the same date are 115 and 230 respectively, of whom 91 and 95 respectively are retiring shortly. The age limits for retirement were necessarily suspended during the War, and steps are being taken to return to them, but this can only be done gradually and it is not possible at present to say when the pre-War age limits will be reached in all ranks.