HC Deb 06 December 1933 vol 283 cc1473-4
62. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the men who serve on the railway boats sailing between Holyhead and Dublin are being refused pensions from the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund because the boats have been registered in Dublin since 1922, although the homes of the men are in Holyhead, and that a subsidy is paid by the Government to the owners of those ships for the carriage of mails; and whether he will take steps to recommend that the conditions under which pensions are granted from the above fund are amended to include such cases?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)

Under the scheme governing the award of pensions out of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund the qualification for a pension is dependent on the length of service in merchant ships registered in the United Kingdom, and a man whose service has been to a large extent on vessels registered in Dublin is consequently at a disadvantage. As no contribution is made to the fund in respect of men serving on ships regis- tered in Dublin, my right hon. Friend cannot regard the provisions of the scheme in this respect as in need of amendment.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is it not the case that these seamen, who were on these ships before 1922, are being credited with rights of pension up to that date, and that since the registration of these vessels in Dublin no notice has been taken of their service in the ships after 1922; and, as these are British subjects sailing in what were British ships before 1922, cannot the regulations be rearranged so that they will be entitled to pension?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

The statement made by the hon. Gentleman is correct, but the benefits of the fund only accrue to persons serving on ships registered in the United Kingdom ports.

Mr. MACLEAN

The point of the question is whether the Minister cannot have the regulations re-arranged so that people who are resident in this country and are paying into the fund will be entitled to have the pension.

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us whether this fund is governed by regulations issued by the Minister of Health, and, if so, is it not possible to alter them to provide for the suggestion of my hon. Friend?

Mr. SHAKESPEARE

It is not possible to dissipate this fund by paying benefits to persons serving on ships in various parts of the world.

Mr. DAVIES

Is it not possible for the Minister to transfer the reserves to the credit of these men into the Seamen's Fund?

Major OWEN

Are not these men now deprived of benefit from this fund through no fault of their own? These ships were registered in Dublin in 1922 as a result of legislation passed by this House, and is it right that the men should be penalised?

Mr. MAXTON

Having regard to the inaudible nature of the questions and replies, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.