§ 5. Mr. DENVILLEasked the Minister of Labour whether he has received particulars of the case of Mrs. Forrest, of 20, Nutley Place, Ferguson's Estate, Scotswood, Newcastle-on-Tyne, who on leaving her employment as a cleaner at the local Employment Exchange after a period of 15 years was permitted to continue to work for over a year beyond the normal retiring age of 65, in order to 522 permit her to qualify for a pension or gratuity, and on completion of 15 years' service was denied such pension or gratuity; and what action does he propose to take?
Mr. STANLEYI am fully aware of the particulars of this case. Mrs. Forrest would, in the normal course, have been discharged on reaching the age of 65, but owing to her domestic circumstances she was allowed to continue in her employment as cleaner for a further period of rather more than a year, by the end of which time it was thought that she would qualify for a retirement gratuity. Application for a gratuity was made in due course, but it was found that, as she had not given full-time employment for the required minimum of 15 years, she was ineligible. While I regret that a gratuity cannot be awarded, I cannot admit that any hardship has been caused; on the contrary, by being allowed to continue her employment she was treated more favourably than if she had been discharged in the normal course at the age of 65.