HC Deb 18 March 1925 vol 181 cc2237-8
31. Major HORE-BELISHA

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the deductions which are made from the wages of established men in the Royal dockyards, whether his attention has been called to the answer to Petitions from Dockyard Employes, 1914, wherein it is stated, in reply to a request that pensions be calculated on the hired rate, that the rates of wages of established men take into account that the service is a pensionable one, and that it is a recognised principle that, in consideration of their prospective pensionable rights, pensionable civil servants should receive a lower rate of pay than the hired or un-pensionable servant; whether he will now say by virtue of what provision in the Superannuation Acts the Admiralty makes a deduction from the wages of established men; and, if there is no such provision in the Superannuation Acts, whether he will take steps to give these men the full benefits of the Acts, and further undertake to base their pensions upon their full rate of pay and emoluments

Mr. DAVIDSON

As the hon. Member has been previously informed by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, he is under a misapprehension in thinking that any actual deductions are made from the wages of established workmen in His Majesty's Dockyards. There is a well recognised distinction made between the rate of pay of a hired man and that of an established man of similar grade for the reason given in the replies to the petitions referred to. The Superannuation Acts do not deal with the emoluments to be received by employes of the Crown while in service, but with the awards to be made after service is completed. The full benefits of the Acts are accorded to the established workmen whose pensions, under those Statutes, are based upon the pay and emoluments actually granted in respect of their employment in established capacities.