§ 88. Mr. SCURRasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that last October a number of Ushers and other attendants at the High Court of Justice, who had 40 years of service to their credit, were discharged at the age of 70 without a pension; whether, considering that the remuneration of these public servants is not sufficient to enable them to provide for old age, he will take steps to put the existing staff on a pensionable basis; and if he will consider the granting of a compassionate allowance to those already discharged?
Mr. GRAHAMI am informed that four Ushers and five other attendants at the Royal Courts of Justice were discharged in October last. These officers were not entitled to pension, but they were awarded the normal gratuities payable on retirement. A scheme of reorganisation has now been introduced under which the Ushers and certain of the attendants will 2526 in future be established, and many of the existing staff have been admitted to the pensionable establishment under the terms of this scheme.