§ 83. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the inconvenience that is caused to ex-naval and ex-established workers from His Majesty's dockyards when making applications for the old age pension at the age of 65, seeing that the Admiralty retain the birth certificates of 1184 these men on entry or establishment; and whether he can arrange in future for the birth certificates of these men to be returned to them after verifying their ages on entry or establishment?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part that the course proposed is not considered necessary. I understand that it is only in exceptional cases that applicants for old age pensions are required to produce birth certificates. The certificates can always be obtained by ex-naval ratings on application to the Admiralty and by ex-established workmen on application to the Civil Service Commission.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman kindly look further into this grievance, and, if he finds that the complaint is genuine, will he remedy the practice?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMWe have not had any complaints, but I shall always be ready to look into any grievance.