§ 19. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take powers to amend the present provision in the Superannuation Acts whereby only those dockyard men who have seven years' calculable service in His Majesty's dockyards are eligible for a gratuity; and whether he can reduce the qualifying period, seeing that many hired men who fall short of this period will be discharged owing to the closing of Rosyth and Pembroke yards?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe Superannuation Acts apply to the Civil Service as a whole, and I regret that I am unable to recommend any amendment in the direction suggested.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAOwing to the special circumstances of the closing of Rosyth and Pembroke, does not the hon. Gentleman think that these men should be treated differently, and that as many of them are anxious to get other jobs and to give way to other men, it is in the interests of the Admiralty to relax the Regulations?