§ 60. Mr. KELLYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that a workman in Government service must be retired at the age of 65 years and that in at least some Departments it has been the practice to allow a workman to continue until he reached the age of 70 years provided he was capable, he will consider the possibility of reducing the qualifying period for a gratuity from 15 years' service to 10?
Mr. SAMUELI am unable to adopt this suggestion. The hon. Member appears to have in mind a particular Department in which there was recently a reduction of the retiring age. It was, however, agreed that existing officers might if efficient be retained up to the age of 70, if this would enable them to qualify for gratuity under the Act.
§ Mr. KELLYWill the hon. Gentleman make recommendations to his Department that those who have served for 10 years are equally as deserving of a gratuity as those who have served for 15 years?