§ 40. Mr. HAYESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that many subordinate prison officers are being compulsorily retired at the age of 55 years before the pay question is settled; whether he will state the Act of Parliament and Section under which this compulsion is exercised; and whether there are higher officials over 60 years of age still in the service and who are not under notice to retire?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANUnder Section 10 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, as modified by Section 1 (1) (a) of the Superannuation (Prison Officers) Act,1919, a subordinate prison officer may retire on pension at the age of 55. The Order in Council of the 11th March, 1920, provides that such officers must retire at the age of 60, and can be called on to retire by the Head of their Department at any time after reaching the pensionable age of 55. The higher officials to whom reference is made cannot earn a pension until they are 60. They have to retire at 65 and can be called on to retire at any time after reaching 60. The privilege of earning a pension at the age of 55, granted to prison officers by the new Act, carries with it, as in the case of higher officers, the corresponding liability to be called on to retire at any time after pensionable age has been reached. A few subordinate officers have been called on to retire after having earned a pension and before reaching the age of 60, but not unless, after careful consideration, the officer was found to be no longer efficient for the discharge of his official duties.