§ 18. Mr. GILLISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state definitely what are the exact terms to which Irish civil servants are entitled who may voluntarily retire in consequence of the change of Government; whether, in addition to the transitional period, they are entitled to have abolition years added in accordance with the Superannuation Act, 1859; and, if so, what are the exact number of years which should be so added?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIrish civil servants who may voluntarily retire in consequence of the change of Government are entitled to terms not less favourable than those accorded by the Act of 1920. That Act provides that the years of service of such a civil servant shall be reckoned as if he had served up to the end of the transitional period or to the time when he would have reached the age of 65, whichever may be the earlier, and that there shall be added any additional years which he may be entitled to reckon under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859.
§ Mr. R. RICHARDSONIf a man decides to continue under the Provisional Government of Southern Ireland, will the years that he has served under the British Government be counted in his time?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must ask the hon. Member to put down that question.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many civil servants in Ireland who will have-to retire, and for whose case there is no provision under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920; and can he state the conditions under which those men will be entitled to retire?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must ask hon. Members to put questions of that kind down. I cannot answer a technical question like that without notice.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs not the question perfectly general as to civil servants in Ireland who have to retire, whether under the Act of 1920 or not?