HC Deb 14 December 1937 vol 330 cc982-3
52. Mr. R. C. Morrison

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that ex-service men employed at the Royal Mint, with 15 to 18 years' service, are still classified as temporary employés, without pension rights or payment for sickness absence; and what steps are being taken to grant pension rights and payment during sickness to these men?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

The employés referred to are unestablished industrial staff. It is not customary to grant establishment, carrying pension and sick leave privileges, to industrial employés generally, but a considerable number of established posts for which such employés are eligible are provided at the Mint. Twenty-seven of the unestablished men have been appointed to such posts in the last two years.

Mr. Morrison

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman look into this question a little further, and see whether the Mint cannot be made a little better than the worst employers of the country, in view of the fact that there are employés there with from 15 to 18 years' service who are not entitled to a single day's sick leave and have no pension rights?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

In comparison with other Government establishments, the Mint receives specially favourable treatment. At the present time there are 173 established industrial employés.

Mr. Morrison

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not dispute my statement that there are men with from 15 to 18 years' service who have no pension rights and no sickness allowance?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

No, Sir, I do not dispute that, but I am pointing out that, comparing the Mint with other Government establishments, the Mint's employés are by no means unfairly treated.