§ 83. Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. H. Q. Penrose, 14, Admiralty Street, Devonport, whose total service counting 936 towards pension is 13 years, 354 days, which entitles him to an allowance of 7s a week, which is included in his present pension; whether he is aware that if this man had served 11 days longer, making a total of 14 years, his allowance would have been increased by 1s. per week; seeing that the Ministry have failed to count four days for leap years, bringing him within seven days of the qualification for an allowance on the basis of 14 years' service, whether he can see his way to increase this man's allowance by 1s. a week; and whether he will state the basis upon which such allowances are granted for broken periods of time, and, if he has no power to consider fractions of a year's service, will he take power to do so?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Mr. J. W. Muir)The scale of allowance for service in the case referred to is common to the Ministry with the Service Departments, and my right hon. Friend has no authority to vary its application in individual cases coming before his Department. The scale is based on completed years of service, and does not admit of the recognition of periods of service of less than a year. Cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member must, I fear, inevitably occur whatever were the precise period selected as the basis of award.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAWill the hon. Gentleman undertake to approach the Service Departments with a view to the abolition of this iniquitous system?
Mr. MUIRIt would not make any difference, as any alteration made would still leave cases similar to the one raised by the hon. and gallant Member.